What term describes the policy that allowed residents of new territories to vote on whether slavery would be legal there?

What term describes the policy that allowed residents of new territories to vote on whether slavery would be legal there?

• A. Checks and balances
• B. Federalism
• C. Popular sovereignty
• D. Nullification

Answer: (C)

Popular sovereignty is the idea that the people living in a territory should decide through their own vote whether slavery will be legal there. In this policy, residents of new territories determine the slavery question for themselves rather than having Congress impose a decision. That’s exactly what this item is describing—the opportunity for local voters to choose slavery’s legality. The other terms describe different political concepts: checks and balances is about how the branches of government keep each other in check; federalism is the division of power between national and state governments; nullification is the idea that states can strike down federal laws. None of those capture the idea of letting residents vote to decide slavery in a territory.

Popular sovereignty is the idea that the people living in a territory should decide through their own vote whether slavery will be legal there. In this policy, residents of new territories determine the slavery question for themselves rather than having Congress impose a decision. That’s exactly what this item is describing—the opportunity for local voters to choose slavery’s legality. The other terms describe different political concepts: checks and balances is about how the branches of government keep each other in check; federalism is the division of power between national and state governments; nullification is the idea that states can strike down federal laws. None of those capture the idea of letting residents vote to decide slavery in a territory.