Which term describes the concept that government derives its authority from the people?

• A. Social Contract
• B. Enlightenment
• C. Federalist Papers
• D. Bill of Rights

Answer: (A)

The idea that government gets its authority from the people is captured by the Social Contract. This concept holds that legitimate government rests on the consent of the governed, not on force, tradition, or divine right. In Enlightenment thought, philosophers argued that rulers derive power only because people allow it and can withdraw that permission through consent, elections, or revolution. In American history, this idea underpins the belief that governments derive “their just powers from the consent of the governed,” a principle echoed in foundational documents and debates about rights, representation, and legitimacy.

The other options describe broader movements or specific writings rather than the source of governmental authority. The Enlightenment is the broader era of ideas that influenced this thinking; the Federalist Papers are essays arguing for the Constitution and how government should be structured; the Bill of Rights lists protections for individuals. None of these single out authority as resting with the people in the same direct way as the Social Contract.