"Consent of the governed" refers to the idea that a government's authority and legitimacy are derived from the consent, or approval, of the people it governs. In a democratic system, the people give their consent to be governed either directly or indirectly through their elected representatives. This principle implies that the government should act in accordance with the will of the people and that its power should be limited to what is agreed upon by the majority or through established rules and laws. Ultimately, it emphasizes the idea that political authority is not inherent but is instead derived from the will and consent of the governed.
