Consent of the Governed

"Consent of the governed" is a political principle stating that a government's legitimacy comes from the agreement of its people. In simpler terms, it means that for a government to have the right to rule, the citizens must agree to its authority, usually expressed through voting or social contract. If the government fails to represent the people's interests or respects their rights, they have the right to challenge, change, or remove that government. This idea underpins many democratic systems, emphasizing that power originates from the people rather than being imposed by force.