Legal Definitions - sovereign

Sovereign

The term "sovereign" refers to the ultimate, independent authority within a territory or over a group of people. When a state or nation is described as sovereign, it means it possesses the supreme power to govern itself without external interference, and its laws are the highest authority within its own borders. It can also refer to the entity (such as a person, a governing body, or a state) that holds this supreme and independent power.

• Example 1: National Lawmaking

  When a country's parliament or legislature passes a new national law, such as a comprehensive healthcare reform bill or a new environmental protection act, it is exercising its sovereign power. This means that the nation's elected representatives have the supreme and final authority to create laws that apply to all citizens and residents within its territory, without requiring approval or permission from any other country or international body.

• Example 2: International Diplomacy

  A newly independent nation deciding to establish its own foreign policy and enter into direct trade agreements with other countries demonstrates its sovereign status. This illustrates that the nation has the ultimate and independent authority to conduct its own international relations, negotiate treaties, and determine its alliances and economic partnerships without being dictated to by any external power.

• Example 3: Indigenous Self-Governance

  A federally recognized Native American tribe operating its own tribal court system and police force on its reservation exemplifies the exercise of sovereign authority. While existing within the broader legal framework of the United States, the tribe retains inherent governmental powers to manage its internal affairs, administer justice, and enforce laws within its territorial jurisdiction for its members, reflecting its unique status as a distinct governmental entity.