What concept underlines the belief that political power should be derived from the consent of the governed?

The belief that political power should be derived from the consent of the governed is fundamentally tied to the concept of the social contract. This idea proposes that individuals consent to form a government that will protect their rights and maintain order in exchange for some of their freedoms. The legitimacy of the authority of the state is thus rooted in this mutual agreement between the government and its citizens. If a government fails to uphold its end of the bargain, the people have the right to withdraw their consent and seek change. This foundational principle is significant in modern democratic societies, where the authority of the government is seen as legitimate only when it reflects the will and consent of the people it governs.

In contrast, concepts like the separation of powers involve the division of government roles to prevent abuse of power but do not directly address the source of that power. The divine right of kings suggests that monarchs derive their authority from a higher power rather than the consent of the governed, and natural law pertains to moral principles governing behavior, rather than the basis of political authority.