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American GovernmentPrinciples of American Democracy
The U.S. Constitution starts with the words 'We the People.' What does 'We the People' mean?
Accepted answers:
- Self-government
- Popular sovereignty
- Consent of the governed
- People should govern themselves
- Social contract
Why this is the correct answer
Opening with 'We the People' was a deliberate choice to show that authority in America comes from ordinary citizens, not from a king or ruling class. This idea (that people govern themselves) is called popular sovereignty or self-government.
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