What term refers to the practice of allowing citizens in a territory to determine whether they will permit slavery?

The term that refers to the practice of allowing citizens in a territory to determine whether they will permit slavery is popular sovereignty. This concept emerged prominently in the mid-19th century during the debates over the expansion of slavery into newly acquired territories in the United States.

Popular sovereignty was introduced as a way to give local populations the power to decide for themselves about the legality of slavery, rather than having that decision imposed by Congress. This approach became a significant aspect of legislation such as the Kansas-Nebraska Act of 1854, where it aimed to resolve conflicts over slavery by allowing the settlers of each territory to vote on the issue.

While limited governance refers to restrictions on governmental power, and states' rights emphasizes the authority and rights of individual states over federal power, neither captures the democratic principle of allowing the people within a territory to make crucial decisions regarding their own social and economic systems. Constitutional decision implies a formal legal resolution rather than a preference reflected through the will of the people in the territory. Thus, popular sovereignty is the correct term as it encapsulates the essence of the democratic principle that local populations should hold the power to choose their social structure.