Which idea states that government authority comes from the people and can be changed if rights are not protected?

• A. Divine Right
• B. Popular Sovereignty
• C. Consent of the governed
• D. Checks and Balances

Answer: (C)

Consent of the governed means government gets its authority from the people and can be changed if rights are not protected. In a democracy, the people grant power to leaders through voting and participation, and that power rests only as long as the government protects basic rights. When rights aren’t safeguarded, citizens have the power to demand change, or elect new representatives who will uphold those rights. This idea is what gives legitimacy to laws and leaders: their authority comes from the people, not from decree or force. Divine Right would claim authority from God, not the people; Checks and Balances describe how power is limited within government, not where that power originates; Popular Sovereignty is the broader principle that voters have ultimate authority, but the phrase here specifically ties that authority to consent and the ability to withdraw it if rights are violated.