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Simple English definitions for legal terms
Sovereignty
Read a random definition: ut voluntas testatoris sortiatur effectum
A quick definition of Sovereignty:
Sovereignty: Sovereignty means having the most power or being in charge. In a kingdom, the king has all the power. In a democracy, the people have the power and make decisions through their leaders. Being sovereign means having the power to make rules and not being controlled by others. It also means having the right to take things from people for the good of everyone and being protected from being sued.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Sovereignty is the highest power or authority in a country or state. It means that the person or group with sovereignty has complete control over the government and its laws. In a monarchy, the king or queen is the sovereign. In a democracy, the people are the sovereign and they exercise their power through elected representatives.
For example, in the United States, the Constitution gives sovereignty to the people. This means that the government can only make laws that the people agree to. The government cannot take away the people's rights or freedoms without their consent.
Sovereignty also means that the person or group with this power is autonomous, which means they are not subject to the control of others. This is why sovereign nations have the right to make their own decisions without interference from other countries.
Two other important aspects of sovereignty are eminent domain and sovereign immunity. Eminent domain is the right of the sovereign to take private property for public use. For example, if the government needs to build a new highway, they can use eminent domain to take land from private owners. Sovereign immunity is the protection that the sovereign has from being sued. This means that the government cannot be sued without its consent.