"The people are the government, administering it by their agents; they are the government, the sovereign power"

Andrew Jackson’s statement is a powerful affirmation of democratic principles, emphasizing the foundational idea that the ultimate authority in a state lies not in the hands of distant rulers or a select elite, but rather with the collective body of its people. The government, in this view, acts merely as an instrument, a means by which the will and interests of the people are translated into policies and actions. The officials who occupy governmental offices are not themselves the owners of power; they are designated agents charged with carrying out the responsibilities assigned to them by the public.

What makes this perspective especially notable is its rejection of hierarchical or aristocratic interpretations of sovereignty. Instead, it situates sovereignty squarely within the people as a body politic. The phrase “sovereign power” underscores the sense that governmental legitimacy arises solely from popular consent and participation. Government exists to serve the public, not to rule over it as a master. Laws and policies are thus valid only to the extent that they express the general will and protect the common good.

Jackson’s assertion also implies an ongoing relationship of accountability between those who govern and those who are governed. Public officials remain constantly answerable to the people; their authority can be modified or withdrawn as the people see fit. This ideal underpins the mechanisms of elections, civil liberties, and the right to dissent, crucial features of a functioning democracy. At its core, this conception forms a bulwark against tyranny: if the people are sovereign, then concentrations of unchecked power among the few stand in fundamental contradiction to the principles of self-government.

The statement also encourages civic engagement and responsibility. It reminds citizens that the success or failure of their government ultimately rests in their hands, urging them to remain vigilant, informed, and involved, not merely spectators but active participants in shaping society’s destiny. The legitimacy, vitality, and justice of government thus flow not from imposed authority, but from the enduring, collective will of its people.