sovereignty
The highest power of a country to make its own laws and decisions without control from another country.
The supreme and independent authority by which a state governs itself, free from control by any other state or power.
The top power inside a country or system that can finally decide and change the laws.
The ultimate legal and political authority within a state that has final power to make, interpret, and change laws.
A person’s right and power to control their own body and decisions without other people forcing them.
The state of having full control over one’s own body, decisions, and life, free from unwanted interference or coercion by others or by the state.
- Base: sovereignty
- Plural: sovereignty
bodily sovereignty
1full control over one’s body
A person’s right and power to decide what happens to their own body.
- The campaign connects reproductive rights with bodily sovereignty.
- They argued that vaccine mandates raised questions about bodily sovereignty.
- Many activists see bodily sovereignty as a basic human right.
full sovereignty
1complete independent authority
Total power of a country to rule itself without any outside control or limits.
- The colony did not have full sovereignty until the peace agreement.
- They demanded full sovereignty rather than a form of shared rule.
- The region enjoys autonomy but not full sovereignty under the current arrangement.
loss of sovereignty
1end of independent authority
When a country stops having full power to rule itself, often because another country or body controls it.
- Critics warned that the agreement could lead to a loss of sovereignty.
- For many citizens, any loss of sovereignty is unacceptable.
- The union tried to share powers without causing a loss of sovereignty for member states.
national sovereignty
1independent authority of a nation
A country's full power to rule itself and make its own decisions without control from other countries.
- Many voters worry that the trade deal could weaken national sovereignty.
- The new constitution was designed to protect national sovereignty in foreign affairs.
- They defended their national sovereignty by refusing to sign the agreement.
parliamentary sovereignty
1parliament as highest legal power
The idea that the parliament has the top legal power in a country and no court or other body can overrule its laws.
- In that system, parliamentary sovereignty means the legislature can pass any law it wishes.
- The court stressed that it must act within the framework of parliamentary sovereignty.
- Debates over parliamentary sovereignty grew stronger after the referendum.
popular sovereignty
1people as the highest authority
The idea that the people, not a king or small group, are the real source of political power in a country.
- The revolution was justified in the name of popular sovereignty.
- In civics class, they studied popular sovereignty as a key democratic principle.
- The constitution declares that popular sovereignty is the basis of all public authority.
respect for sovereignty
1honoring another state’s independence
The practice of accepting that another country has the right to rule itself and not interfering with it.
- They called for mutual respect for sovereignty in the region.
- The ambassador stressed respect for sovereignty as a key principle.
- Respect for sovereignty is often mentioned in UN resolutions.
sovereignty and territorial integrity
1state power and protected borders
The idea that a country has full power over itself and that other countries must respect its borders.
- The agreement reaffirms the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all member states.
- They condemned the invasion as a clear violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity.
- Respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity is a basic rule of international relations.
sovereignty of the people
1people collectively hold power
The situation where the people as a whole, not a ruler, have the highest power in a country.
- The manifesto begins by affirming the sovereignty of the people.
- They argued that the law went against the sovereignty of the people.
- Modern democracies are often described as resting on the sovereignty of the people.
state sovereignty
1independent authority of a state
The power of a state, seen as a political unit, to govern itself without outside control.
- International law is built on the principle of state sovereignty.
- They claimed that foreign sanctions interfered with their state sovereignty.
- The court balanced human rights protections against state sovereignty.