Is the American Experiment Legitimate? The question of governmental legitimacy is fundamental to deep political disputes, often underlying disagreements about policy. These core conflicts revolve around who possesses power, the justification for that power, and its application. The legitimacy of the American government is continually tested by principles outlined in the Declaration of Independence and addressed by the Constitution.

• The legitimacy of government is a core issue in many deep political disputes.
• Disagreements often concern who should hold power, by what right, and to what ends.
• The Constitution addresses the test posed by the Declaration of Independence regarding legitimacy.