Question 31
What does 'popular sovereignty' mean?
German original: Was bedeutet 'Volkssouveränität'?. In the test, all questions are asked in German.
Answer options
- The queen/king rules over the people.
- The Federal Constitutional Court stands above the constitution.
- The interest groups exercise sovereignty together with the government.
- State power comes from the people. — Correct answer
Explanation
Popular sovereignty means state authority derives from the people (Art. 20 Basic Law). The people exercise their power through elections and referendums, legitimizing all state institutions.
Key terms in this question
- Popular sovereignty — Popular sovereignty means that all state power originates from the people. The people decide through elections who exercises political power.
- people / nation — The entirety of people belonging to a nation or state, often sharing a common language, culture, or history.
- Sovereignty — Sovereignty is the right and power of a state to govern itself independently and make its own decisions without interference from other states.