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Simple English definitions for legal terms
sovereign state
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A quick definition of sovereign state:
A sovereign state is a country that is independent and complete in itself, without being controlled by another larger country. It has its own government that its citizens must obey. Sovereign states are like separate atoms in the world, sometimes working together and sometimes not, but always separate and independent.
A more thorough explanation:
A sovereign state is a political community that has complete independence and is not subject to the government of a larger entity. Its members are bound together by a common subjection to a central authority, which they must obey.
For example, the United States is a sovereign state because it has its own government and is not subject to the authority of any other country. Similarly, France, China, and Russia are also sovereign states.
On the other hand, a part-sovereign state is a political community in which some of the powers of external sovereignty are exercised by the home government, while others are controlled by another political body. Such a state is not fully independent because it does not have complete freedom of action in external affairs.
An example of a part-sovereign state is Puerto Rico, which is a territory of the United States. While it has its own government, it is not fully independent and is subject to the authority of the United States government in certain matters.