Question

What is consent of the governed? Why is this principle important in the American Founding and in Federalist No. 1?

Answer 1

Consent of the governed refers to a principle of democracy that states that the sovereignty of the government comes from its people. Therefore, the people are the only ones who can create laws and chose their representatives. Moreover, the government cannot create laws unless these are supported by the people.

This is an important value for the Founding Fathers because they believed that this principle was violated by the King of Great Britain. The Founding Fathers believed that the King had created laws that had not been approved by the people he governed.

Answer 2

Consent of the governed is defined as the authority of the government officials given by the consent of the people who voted for these officials.

A government can only be legitimate when it has consent of the governed. This consent was given through the votes casted by the people.