What characterizes constitutional democracy?

• A. A government that derives its legitimacy from a divine right.
• B. A government that derives its legitimacy from an authoritative document that defines the system and rights.
• C. A government guided by tradition and custom.
• D. A government with no constitution.

Answer: (B)

A constitutional democracy is defined by government power that is bound and guided by a formal framework—usually a written or codified constitution—that lays out how power is organized, what the limits are, and what rights people have. This framework gives legitimacy to the government because leaders and institutions operate under rules, and the people exercise consent through elections and the rule of law. In short, authority comes from the legal document that defines the system and protects individual rights, not from force, tradition alone, or belief in divine sanction.

That makes it different from a regime that claims legitimacy from divine right, which places ultimate authority outside a legal framework; or from systems guided only by custom and tradition, which may lack formal, enforceable limits; or from governments with no constitution at all, where power can be exercised without binding constraints or guarantees.