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Popular Sovereignty

Learn more about Popular Sovereignty in the Interactive Constitution.

“We the People . . . do ordain and establish this Constitution.”
These words are contained in the Constitution's Preamble and give expression to the doctrine of popular sovereignty, or rule by the people. The Constitution's Framers crafted a governing document, which they submitted for popular ratification, based on the conception that ultimate political authority resides not in the government or in any single government official, but rather, in the people. "We, the People" own our government, but under our representative democracy, we delegate the day-to-day governing powers to a body of elected representatives. However, this delegation of powers in no way impairs or diminishes the people's rights and responsibilities as the supreme sovereign. The government's legitimacy remains dependent on the governed, who retain the inalienable right to alter or abolish their government or amend their Constitution.