Which principle states that the people are the source of government authority?

The principle that states the people are the source of government authority is known as popular sovereignty. This concept emphasizes that the legitimacy of a government derives from the consent and will of the people, highlighting that the power ultimately resides with the citizenry.

Popular sovereignty is foundational to democratic systems, as it establishes that government officials are representatives of the people and must act in accordance with their wishes. This principle is enshrined in key documents and practices, including the Constitution, which begins with the preamble "We the People," underscoring that the government's authority comes from the collective agreement of its citizens.

In contrast, separation of powers refers to the division of government responsibilities into distinct branches to prevent any one branch from having too much power. Federalism describes the distribution of power between a central government and its constituent political units, like states or provinces, while checks and balances are mechanisms that ensure no one branch of government can dominate the others. Each of these concepts is essential for the functioning of government but does not directly address the source of authority as popular sovereignty does.