Who has sovereignty in the United States?

• A. The Supreme Court alone.
• B. The people, exercised through elected government officials.
• C. State governments hold all sovereignty.
• D. Individual interests hold sovereignty.

Answer: (B)

In the United States, sovereignty rests with the people. They authorize government by voting and through the Constitution, creating a representative system where officials act on the people’s behalf. This is called popular sovereignty—the ultimate authority comes from the people, who empower legislators, executives, and judges to govern within constitutional limits. The Constitution establishes checks and balances so no single branch or body holds ultimate power. The Supreme Court interprets laws, but its authority is derived from the Constitution and the people’s consent. State governments share power under federalism, but sovereignty isn’t held by states alone, nor by individual interests. Therefore, the people, exercised through elected government officials, hold sovereignty.