The U.S. Constitution starts with the words “We the People.” What does “We the People” mean?

What does this answer mean?

The Constitution opens with the words "We the People" to show that its power comes from the people, not from a king. USCIS accepts several ways to say this: self-government, popular sovereignty, consent of the governed, people should govern themselves, or an example of a social contract.

These answers share one idea. Popular sovereignty means the people are the final source of the government's authority. Consent of the governed means a government is fair only when the people agree to it, an idea the Declaration of Independence states directly. A social contract is the agreement behind that: people accept a government and its laws, and the government in return protects their rights.

In practice, the people govern themselves by voting for their leaders and by changing the Constitution through amendments. The opening sentence, called the Preamble, also lists the Constitution's goals, such as justice, the common defense, and liberty.

Pick the answer that's easiest for you to say, such as "self-government."