--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The people are the source of governmental…" description: "\"The people are the source of governmental power. Along with many religious people, Latter-day Saints affirm that God gave the power to the people, and ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/dallin-h-oaks-2042_certain_the-people-are-the-source-of-governmenta_317714.jpg" --- # The people are the source of governmental power. Along… ![“The people are the source of governmental power. Along with many religious people, Latter-day Saints affirm that God gave the power to the people, and the people consented to a constitution that delegated certain powers to the government... The sovereign power is in the people.” quote by Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/dallin-h-oaks-2042_certain_the-people-are-the-source-of-governmenta_317714.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/dallin-h-oaks-2042_certain_the-people-are-the-source-of-governmenta_317714.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/859/dallin-h-oaks-2042_certain_the-people-are-the-source-of-governmenta_317714.jpg) > “The people are the source of governmental power. Along with many religious people, Latter-day Saints affirm that God gave the power to the people, and the people consented to a constitution that delegated certain powers to the government... The sovereign power is in the people.” [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Political authority originates from the people, who delegate limited powers to government while retaining ultimate sovereignty. **In simple terms:** People hold ultimate power; governments act on their consent. Key Takeaway Participate in civic life and protect constitutional limits. Themes democracy sovereignty constitutional law religion and politics Mood hopeful reflective Type political inspirational When to use this quote - voting - public advocacy - community organizing - educational forums Key Concepts Social contract theory citizen empowerment religious liberty Questions to Reflect On - What safeguards ensure government respects the people? - How does religious belief influence civic responsibility? A Different Perspective Power can be concentrated if citizens disengage. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Government](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/government/) [Latter day saints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latter-day-saints/) [Latter days](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latter-days/) [Mental power](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mental-power/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Politics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/politics/) [Power to the people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-to-the-people/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Religious people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious-people/) [Saint](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/saint/) [Sovereign](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sovereign/) ## Related quotes > [We believe that the people are the source of all governmental power; that the authority of the people is to be extended, not restricted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-jordan/we-believe-that-the-people-are-the-source-of-all-governmental-power/) [Barbara Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-jordan/) > [The Constitution was framed fundamentally as a bulwark against governmental power, and preventing the arbitrary administration of punishment is a basic ideal of any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-j-brennan/the-constitution-was-framed-fundamentally-as-a-bulwark-against/) [William J. Brennan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-j-brennan/) > [There is an inherent tendency in all governmental power to recognize no restraints on its operation and to extend the sphere of its dominion…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/there-is-an-inherent-tendency-in-all-governmental-power-to-recognize/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [There is a limited elite that understands the secrets of their own techniques, but not necessarily of all techniques. These men are close to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-ellul/there-is-a-limited-elite-that-understands-the-secrets-of-their-own/) [Jacques Ellul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-ellul/) > [Any one who studies the state of things which preceded the French Revolution will see that that tremendous catastrophe came about from so excessive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/any-one-who-studies-the-state-of-things-which-preceded-the-french/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [Whoever sets any bounds for the reconstructive power of the religious life over the social relations and institutions of men, to that extent denies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-rauschenbusch/whoever-sets-any-bounds-for-the-reconstructive-power-of-the-religious/) [Walter Rauschenbusch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-rauschenbusch/) > [I was interested in the question of the power of religious organizations to effect public policy in a negative way. 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Riegel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-c-riegel/) ## More by Dallin H. Oaks > [Intellectual methods-study and reason-are essential to our progress toward eternal life, but they are not sufficient. They can prepare the way. They can get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/intellectual-methods-study-and-reason-are-essential-to-our-progress/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [Persons who have cleansed themselves of any transgression and who have shown their ability to deal with homosexual inclinations and put them in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dallin-h-oaks/persons-who-have-cleansed-themselves-of-any-transgression-and-who/) [Dallin H. Oaks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dallin-h-oaks/) > [“Feeling the Lord magnify me professionally as I sought to serve him solidified my commitment to serve the Lord first. 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