Question 61 · Federal question
What does 'popular sovereignty' mean?
German original (as asked in the real test)
Was bedeutet "Volkssouveränität"?
- A Die Königin/der König herrscht über das Volk.
- B Das Bundesverfassungsgericht steht über der Verfassung.
- C Die Interessenverbände üben die Souveränität zusammen mit der Regierung aus.
- D Die Staatsgewalt geht vom Volke aus. ✓ Correct answer
Translation
What does 'popular sovereignty' mean?
- A The queen/king rules over the people.
- B The Federal Constitutional Court stands above the constitution.
- C Interest groups exercise sovereignty together with the government.
- D State authority emanates from the people. ✓ Correct answer
Explanation
In the German Basic Law (Art. 20), popular sovereignty means that all state authority originates from the people, exercised through elections, votes, and via the legislative, executive, and judiciary established by the people.
Tips
- Recall the core principles of the Basic Law (Art. 20): democracy, rule of law, social state, federalism, and that state power stems from the people.
- Eliminate options suggesting monarchy or any institution being "above the constitution"—these contradict democratic and constitutional supremacy principles.
- Be wary of answers that give power to interest groups; sovereignty is not shared with private associations.
- Look for wording indicating that the source of state power is the people and that it is exercised through constitutional institutions and elections.
Practice in the app
