Jean Bodin
A 16th-century engraving of the French political philosopher Jean Bodin.
popular sovereignty
political theory
Popular sovereignty, in political theory, is a doctrine or principle according to which government is or should be created by and subject to the will of the people. Although the idea was explored in the West from at least the 17th century, the term itself was not introduced until the mid-19th century by Sen. Lewis Cass, the candidate of the Democratic Party in the United States presidential election of 1848. As understood and applied by...
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