The power of government primarily comes from the people it governs. In modern democratic theory, government derives its legitimate authority from the consent of the governed, meaning that the people grant government the power to rule through elections, constitutions, and laws. This contrasts with ancient or authoritarian models where power came from heredity, conquest, or divine right. In the United States, for example, the Constitution establishes the framework for government power, which is divided among three branches—legislative, executive, and judicial—with each branch's powers defined and limited to prevent tyranny. The foundation of government power rests on the will and consent of the people, as expressed through constitutional governance and elections.
More broadly, governments may derive power through systems such as autocracy, oligarchy, or democracy, but in democratic societies, the source of government power is the people, exercised either directly or through elected representatives.