popular sovereignty: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Formal, Academic, Political
Quick answer
What does “popular sovereignty” mean?
The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives.
A political doctrine asserting that the legitimacy of government is derived from the will of the people, often expressed through voting and democratic processes. It implies that ultimate power resides with the people, not with a monarch, elite, or external power.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used identically in concept. However, it is more frequently invoked in American political discourse due to its foundational role in the U.S. Constitution and historical debates (e.g., antebellum period). In the UK, the functionally equivalent concept is often discussed as 'parliamentary sovereignty' or the general 'will of the people'.
Connotations
In the US, it carries strong historical connotations related to the founding of the republic, states' rights, and the pre-Civil War debates over slavery. In the UK, it is a more abstract, theoretical term from political philosophy.
Frequency
Higher frequency in American academic, historical, and political texts. Lower, but still significant, in British political theory contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “popular sovereignty” in a Sentence
[verb] + popular sovereignty (e.g., establish, defend, undermine)popular sovereignty + [preposition] + [noun] (e.g., sovereignty of the people, sovereignty in action)[adjective] + popular sovereignty (e.g., genuine, effective, theoretical)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “popular sovereignty” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The referendum was intended to popular-sovereignty the decision.
- They sought to popular-sovereignty the process.
American English
- The convention aimed to popular-sovereignty the amendment.
- Activists want to popular-sovereignty the selection.
adverb
British English
- The government acted popular-soverignly, according to some.
- The decision was made popular-soverignly.
American English
- The state legislated popular-soverignly on the issue.
- They governed popular-soverignly.
adjective
British English
- The popular-sovereignty principle was debated hotly.
- It was a popular-sovereignty move.
American English
- The popular-sovereignty doctrine is key.
- He took a popular-sovereignty stance.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Might appear in discussions of corporate governance or stakeholder theory as an analogy.
Academic
Frequent in political science, law, history, and philosophy texts. Used to analyse systems of government and constitutional principles.
Everyday
Very rare. Might be encountered in high-level political commentary or during discussions about constitutional referendums.
Technical
Core term in constitutional law and democratic theory, with precise definitions regarding the source of governmental power.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “popular sovereignty”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “popular sovereignty”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “popular sovereignty”
- Using it as a countable noun (e.g., 'a popular sovereignty').
- Confusing it with 'majority rule' without the constitutional/legitimising framework.
- Misspelling as 'popular sovereignity'.
- Using it to describe simple popularity rather than foundational political authority.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. Popular sovereignty is the foundational principle that the people are the source of governmental authority. Democracy is a system of government that operationalises this principle, typically through elections and representation. All democracies assume popular sovereignty, but one could theoretically imagine a system based on popular sovereignty that isn't a full democracy.
Popular sovereignty refers to the internal source of a government's power (the people within a state). National sovereignty refers to the external independence of a state from interference by other states. A nation can have national sovereignty (be independent) without having popular sovereignty (e.g., being a dictatorship).
Yes, in theory. Direct democracy, like in a referendum or a citizens' assembly, is a direct expression of popular sovereignty. Most modern systems use representative democracy, where the people delegate their sovereign power to elected officials.
Key thinkers include Jean-Jacques Rousseau (with his concept of the 'general will'), John Locke (consent of the governed), and the authors of The Federalist Papers (like James Madison) who grappled with implementing it in a large republic.
The principle that the authority of a state and its government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, through their elected representatives.
Popular sovereignty is usually formal, academic, political in register.
Popular sovereignty: in British English it is pronounced /ˌpɒp.jə.lə ˈsɒv.rɪn.ti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌpɑː.pjə.lɚ ˈsɑː.vrən.ti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The voice of the people is the voice of God (Vox Populi, Vox Dei) - related concept.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: POPULAR = of the people. SOVEREIGNTY = supreme power. Therefore, POPULAR SOVEREIGNTY = the supreme power belongs to the people.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE BODY POLITIC (The people are the 'head' or 'heart' that gives life and direction to the government, which is the 'body' or 'limbs'). POWER IS A FLUID (Sovereignty flows from the people upward to the government).
Practice
Quiz
In which historical context was 'popular sovereignty' a particularly contentious and famous doctrine?