From the source of power to everyday responsibilities.
Eligible voters elect a parliament, which makes decisions and scrutinises government. Authorities act within powers set by law. Constitutional procedures thus legitimise and limit public power.
Popular sovereignty therefore does not mean that each individual may directly make every state decision. Article 20 identifies elections, votes and the institutions of legislation, administration and adjudication.
The other three answers
None of the other answers describes the source of democratic state authority.
The king/queen rules over the people.
Rule based on hereditary royal right is not what popular sovereignty means. Germany is a republic.
The Federal Constitutional Court is above the constitution.
The Federal Constitutional Court reviews matters against the Basic Law. It is not above the constitution or the source of all state power.
Interest groups exercise sovereignty together with the government.
Associations may represent interests and influence political debate. This does not make them joint sovereigns with the government.
A majority is also bound by the constitution.
Democratic support does not remove fundamental rights or rule-of-law requirements. A majority cannot dispose of other people’s rights at will.
The principle identifies where state authority comes from. Constitutional and electoral rules determine which elections or votes take place and who may participate.
Article 20(2) · Basic Law ↗Popular sovereignty asks: where does state authority come from?
The answer is “from the people”. Individual institutions exercise it within defined responsibilities.
Three words for this question
- die Souveränitätsovereignty
- Fundamental political authority.
- die Legitimationlegitimacy
- The democratic and legal basis of a power.
- der Interessenverbandinterest group
- An organisation representing shared interests.