Consent of the governed

In political philosophy, consent of the governed is the idea that a government can only use its power fairly if the people agree to it. This means that governments can only lead when people say it’s okay.

This idea is different from an old belief called the divine right of kings, where kings said they ruled because of a connection to a god.

People have used this idea to challenge unfair rule, like during times of colonization. The belief that people should choose their leaders is written in important documents. For example, Article 21 of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights from 1948 says that the people’s choice should be the reason a government has power.

History

The idea that a government can only be right and fair if the people agree to it is very old. Early thinkers thought that laws needed the support of everyone they affect to be good.

One of the first to use the words "consent of the governed" was a writer in the 1290s. His ideas later influenced important documents.

Later writers, such as John Milton and John Locke, said that the power of kings comes from the people. They said people can take that power back if their rights are not protected. Others, like David Hume, argued that many governments rule without asking for people's agreement, especially when they are not too unfair. Still, some believed that even powerful governments need at least a little agreement from the people to stay in control.

In the United States of America

"Consent of the governed" is a phrase from the 1776 United States Declaration of Independence, written mainly by Thomas Jefferson. The leaders of the United States, inspired by ideas from John Locke, believed that a government is only right if the people it rules agree to it. They thought a government without this agreement would not be lawful. This idea is stated in the Declaration of Independence, which says that governments get their power from the consent of the people. It also says that if a government hurts people's rights, the people can change or replace it.

The early leaders of the United States set up a system where the people chose representatives to make decisions for them. Over time, the idea of consent of the governed grew, and more people, including women and people of color, were allowed to vote.

Types of consent

Some people think that for a government to be right, everyone must agree to it. If even one person disagrees, they might have the right to leave that government. But most democracies today make decisions even if not everyone agrees.

Another idea is called hypothetical consent. This means people should follow a government only if they would agree to it if they had no government at all.

Some believe that governments can shape what people think through subtle influences.