What was popular sovereignty?

A) a system that allowed Congress to decide which states would be slave states and which would not

B) a term that refers to the popular vote affecting the outcome of presidential elections

C) a belief that slavery was not a moral practice

D) a system that permitted settlers in each territory to decide whether to allow or prohibit slavery

a term that refers to the popular vote affecting the outcome of presidential elections

Explanation:

Popular sovereignty is the supreme, inalienable right of the people to determine their fate, to be the only, independent bearer and spokesman of the supreme power in the state and society. From this definition, firstly, it follows that popular sovereignty inherent in such basic features as supremacy, inalienability, unity and independence; secondly, the recognition of the people as the subject of power.

Thus, the essence of the idea of popular sovereignty consists in recognizing the people as the source of the highest political power in society and their (people) independence from any individual and group subjects of political relations. The supremacy of the people's power and independence includes the combination in the sovereignty of the rights and freedoms of the people to independently decide the issues of their lives.

The real fulfillment of the principle of the sovereignty of the people consists in the realization by the people of their political function as a source of power:

- the people own constituent and constitutional power in the state;

- people choose their representatives and can periodically replace them;