Which principle is the idea that government derives its power from the consent of the governed?

The principle that government derives its power from the consent of the governed is known as popular sovereignty. This concept emphasizes that the authority of government is created and sustained by the will or consent of the people, who are the ultimate source of political power. This idea is foundational to democratic systems, where elected officials are expected to represent the interests and will of the citizens. Popular sovereignty reinforces the belief that the legitimacy of a government is based on its ability to serve the people effectively and in accordance with their desires and rights.

Limited government, while an important concept emphasizing that government should have restrictions imposed on its powers to protect individual freedoms, does not specifically highlight the role of public consent in a direct manner. Similarly, checks and balances refer to the mechanisms that prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful, and judicial activism pertains to the role of the judiciary in interpreting laws and the Constitution, potentially leading to broader implications in legal contexts. However, none of these directly convey the notion that the authority of governance is rooted in the people's consent, which is the essence of popular sovereignty.