People

The term "the people" fundamentally refers to the common mass or public of a political entity, serving as a core concept in human rights, international, and constitutional law, particularly linked to claims of popular sovereignty. Conversely, "a people" denotes a collective ethnic group or nation.

Internationally, Chapter One, Article One of the UN Charter grants "peoples" the right to self-determination, though this does not automatically equate to independent sovereignty or secession, especially for groups like Indigenous peoples, and defining "a people" remains a complex challenge, as noted by judge Ivor Jennings.

Historically, the Roman Republic and Empire famously inscribed "Senatus Populusque Romanus" (SPQR) – The Senate and People of Rome – on their legionary standards, emphasizing the people's ultimate authority even under emperors; a similar constitutional identification is seen today in the term "People's Republic" used by socialist states.

In modern legal systems, particularly criminal law, prosecutions are often brought in the name of "the People" in jurisdictions like several U.S. states (e.g., California, New York) and countries like Ireland and the Philippines. This practice underscores the political theory that the citizenry, as "the people," are considered the ultimate sovereign, contrasting with systems where cases are brought in the name of "the Crown."