Popular Sovereignty
HINT: Click on pictures to find out more about the subject!
Definition: Government that is established by the people who give it its power. Basically, the government can only govern and rule with the population's consent.
How is Popular Sovereignty applied in today's society?
Here are some examples to help you better understand popular sovereignty:
1) the Constitution
2) the power to elect a Government Official
3) the power to "unelect," or impeach, a Government Official
1) the Constitution
2) the power to elect a Government Official
3) the power to "unelect," or impeach, a Government Official
The Constitution
The Constitution was created on September 17, 1787. Although it was ratified, or approved, on June 21, 1788, it didn't take effect until March 4, 1789. Its sole purpose was to replace the Articles of Confederation, written a decade prior in 1777.
|
|
This document drives America's society in law and politics. In addition to being the oldest written national constitution in continuous use, the US Constitution has inspired other countries to follow suit and write their own constitutions.
|
The Power to Elect a Gov't Official
To date, there has been forty-four presidents in the United States. The population, as a whole, has voted for them and made it possible.
|
The most recent presidential election was in 2008. The candidates were Barack Obama and John McCain. Obama announced that Joe Biden, a senator from Delaware, was to be his running mate and vice-president, if he was elected; McCain chose Sarah Palin, Alaska's governor.
|
On November 5, 2008, Barack Obama was announced as President of the United States with 52.9% of the US. These votes were filled out by citizens of the United States. Being able to vote in a government official that is crucial to our nation, is one example of popular sovereignty.
|
The Power to "Unelect" a Gov't Official
In addition to having the power to elect a government official, the population also has the ability to "unelect" this official. It's called impeachment.
The most recent impeachment of a president was in 1998 for Mr. Bill Clinton. By a two-thirds majority vote, Clinton was impeached under the accusation of perjury and obstruction of justice. However, in 1999, these charges were dropped and Clinton was ruled not guilty. This is called acquittal. |