What does the term "popular sovereignty" refer to?

The term "popular sovereignty" refers to the belief that ultimate power resides in the people. This concept is foundational to democratic governance, suggesting that the authority of the government derives from the consent of the governed. In other words, the legitimacy of government institutions and laws comes from the will of the populace. This principle was a significant topic during debates about the expansion of slavery in the mid-19th century, where it was proposed that the residents of territories should decide for themselves whether to allow slavery.

In contrast, other provided options do not accurately capture the essence of popular sovereignty. The idea of states governing themselves without federal interference pertains more to states' rights than to popular sovereignty. The ruling that all territories must be free relates specifically to legal cases and political debates during a particular period. Finally, the notion that only landowners can vote reflects an unequal criterion for voting rights from a historical context, rather than a principle of governance by the collective will of the people.