Why is popular consent important in our democracy?

Answer 1

I'm going to change my whole answer.

Popular consent theory says we consent to being governed, rather than having our governing forced upon us. So, all else aside, that is the answer a social studies teacher would be looking for.

Popular consent = a people who give their permission (consent) to be led by a certain person, or government, or type of government.

However, some English monarchs certainly could have been said to have led with popular consent, although they were never elected. Queen Elizabeth, in example. And Napoleon led by popular consent for much of his rule in France, although he was essentially a dictator. His people were pleased to have him be so for many years, and live under his rule. Adolf Hitler also led Germany for many years with popular consent. The vast majority of germans liked his rule for many years, well into the early 1940's. So don't confuse popular consent with democracy, as to two needn't go hand in hand.

What we are consenting to in the U.S. is our form of government, not each and every act of the government, or every single leader or policy maker.

We are governed by the system of our choice. That's popular consent. It's important because it is the bedrock of self determination for a people.

A people who choose to live in a Communist society could equally be said to have given "popular consent", as long as that is the government style that they have chosen. Which, of course, gives one pause to consider a whole slew of beliefs about our whole high and mighty opinion of democracy. It isn't democracy that truly matters, but popular consent to whatever system the people choose. That is the essence of self determination. Popular consent.

And it's as important in communism, socialism, dictatorships, and monarchys as it is in our democracy. It means the people live under the governing style of their choosing. Otherwise, without popular consent, the people have no self determination.

There's your High School text book answer.

Answer 2

Popular Consent

Answer 3

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Why is popular consent important in our democracy?

Answer 4

Get it right!! We are NOT a democracy! We are a Republic. There is a big difference.

We are represented by people we send to Washington to state what we want done.

If we were a democracy, there would no need of congress, (that doesn't sound bad). We all would have to vote on every law before it could pass.

"Popular consent", really started with Clinton, he had to check the polls every day before deciding how to think for that day.

"Popular Consent" actually is a big detriment to this country.

Answer 5

Democracy...
Like 2 wolves and a sheep getting together to decide what's for dinner. It's only popular and important to the wolves.

Answer 6

For the best answers, search on this site https://shorturl.im/K5z7y

This is a question from your college prof? You may want to give quiz him on some other points. Sounds like he is either fairly ignorant of our history or maybe he is a marxist and just a college prof. in disguise. And like several before me have said. We are NOT a democracy. Democracies care not for the rights of the minorities. What we really are is a Constitutional Representative Republic. The Constitution which is designed to be very hard to change on purpose, protects certain rights of the people and of the States. It has been modified slightly from the original by a few amendments. (most of which are good changes such as outlawing slavery, and womens right to vote) But unfortunately it has been modified greatly in practice by Judicial activism, which is probably the most dangerous affront to our Liberty. Now to answer the modified question. What are the 3 most important features of our Republic? 1. Liberty is undoubtedly the most important feature of our Republic. this is stated in the first few words of the Declaration of Independence. In fact it is self evident so it was and is obviously very important. Life, LIBERTY, and the Pursuit of Happiness, All three of these self evident truths are forms of Liberty and this is what the founders were trying to do. Make people Free to live life with as little intrusion by government as possible. 2. The concept of Power invested in the people, which is referenced in the Declaration several times and outlined by the form of Government provided in the Constitution. We are a government of by and for the People. As the Declaration states, .... "deriving their just powers by the consent of the governed" And this concept is preserved by the 10th Amendment which is the most binding on the Federal government and probably the one that has been most compromised by the soft tyranny of over zealous legislators and judges. 3. The Constitution itself would undoubtedly be one of the 3 most important features as well. It is this document, long deliberated and pondered before becoming the foundational law of our land that originally nurtured and has since then protected our Liberty. This document with it's innovative ideas of government, transformed the 13 original colonies into independent states with a closely held but limited in power Federal Government to provide for the common defense and oversee interstate commerce. As we stray from these foundational truths of our founders we become less free and less great as a nation. However, I do have hope that things have begun to turn around. Mass. electing a conservative is a very hopeful sign.

Answer 7

Consent of the people is needed in democracy because it shows the will of the people and what they want.

Answer 8

Popular consent... because it is a democracy and not a dictatorship.

Answer 9

Popular consent applies only to the election...after that the elected official must do what he/she feels is best for the voters..even if they do not like it...thats why people are elected for terms not until they are unpopular...
Also the courts over ride Popular consent to defend the minority opinion if that is the law

Answer 10

Because democracy only works if the population agrees to abide by the decision of the majority.

Absent that, it's not democracy. It's tyranny of the majority.