In democracies, the sovereign people are the ultimate authority that grants all powers exercised by government. This is called popular sovereignty. Popular sovereignty requires that the whole body of citizens consent to be governed by the constitution that they authorize and under which they live. Constitutions are forms of higher law.

Center for Civic Education

A constitution limits the powers of government by defining and distributing its powers. However, just because a nation has a constitution does not mean that it has a constitutional government.

Center for Civic Education

A constitution is an authoritative law through which the sovereign people of a democracy authorize a government to be established and grant it certain powers. Learn more in today's episode!

Center for Civic Education

While the founders were supportive of democracy as a concept, they had their reservations about certain types. Learn more in this episode!

Center for Civic Education

What did James Madison think about the term andquot;republicandquot; and why is this significant for the foundation of the United States? Find out more in today'ss episode!

Center for Civic Education

From where did the American Founders learn about the idea of a ???mixed constitution???? Listen to today???s episode to learn about its Greek and Roman origins and more!

Center for Civic Education

Aristotle identified democracy as a corrupt form of government by the many poor. By andquot;democracy,andquot; Aristotle meant direct democracy, where people make public policy directly. This is different from the type of government we call democracy today, in which, for the most part, we elect representatives to make public policy for us. Listen to today's episode to learn more!

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Aristotle distinguished between what he called the andquot;right formandquot; and the andquot;corrupt formandquot; of government. Listen to today's episode to understand the difference!

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Aristotle observed that every state, or country, must perform three functions: legislative, executive, and judicial. The American Founders were well acquainted with these functions, and formed the three branch system around them. Listen to today???s episode to learn more!

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The American Founders learned a great deal from natural rights philosophers, such as Thomas Hobbes and John Locke. Natural rights philosophy taught that people have natural rights that others must respect. Learn more in today's episode!

Center for Civic Education