What principle holds that government authority should be limited to protect individual freedoms in a democracy?

The principle that holds that government authority should be limited to protect individual freedoms in a democracy is indeed the rule of law. This principle is foundational to democratic societies, as it ensures that laws apply equally to all individuals, including those in positions of power, thus preventing arbitrary governance. When law prevails, individual liberties are safeguarded since government actions must be based on pre-established legal frameworks rather than personal whims or unchecked authority.

The rule of law promotes accountability and transparency within government. It establishes a system where citizens can challenge the legality of government actions and ensures that their rights are protected under the same laws that govern everyone else. This is essential in upholding freedoms such as speech, assembly, and due process.

Other principles like popular sovereignty focus more on the idea that the authority of the government derives from the consent of the governed, rather than directly addressing the limitations of government power. Separation of powers relates to the distribution of government responsibilities among different branches to prevent concentration of power but does not specifically highlight the limitation of authority for the protection of individual freedoms. Similarly, checks and balances are mechanisms within a government to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful, but this concept also doesn't directly encapsulate the idea of limiting government authority to protect individual freedoms in a democracy