What is the principle that emphasizes the people's power to rule?

The principle emphasizing the people's power to rule is known as popular sovereignty. This concept establishes that the authority of the government is created and sustained by the consent of its people, typically expressed through their elected representatives. It signifies that the ultimate power and authority reside with the citizens, who have the right to participate in decision-making processes that affect their lives and governance.

Popular sovereignty is foundational to democratic systems, as it ensures that governmental power is derived from the will of the people. This principle was particularly significant during the formation of the Constitution, reflecting the desire of the framers to create a government that was accountable to the citizens and that respected their rights to determine how they are governed. This concept laid the groundwork for representative democracy in the United States, where elected officials are accountable to their constituents.

In contrast, federalism refers to the division of power between national and state governments, checks and balances relate to the mechanisms that prevent any one branch of government from exercising too much power, and direct democracy is a system where citizens directly participate in decision-making rather than through elected representatives. Each of these concepts is important in the broader context of governance but does not specifically highlight the principle of the people's power to rule as clearly as popular sovereignty does.