The foundations of democracy in the United States are rooted in various democratic ideals, including liberty, equality, and justice. These ideals inform the principles of governance and influence how laws are created and implemented. One such principle is the idea that all individuals have certain unalienable rights, as articulated in the Declaration of Independence. Understanding these ideals is crucial for analyzing the democratic processes in the U.S. political system.
Given this context, consider the following statement: "The legitimacy of governmental authority in a democracy is fundamentally derived from the consent of the governed, and this principle is exemplified by the idea of popular sovereignty." Which of the following best exemplifies this principle?