Sovereignty

Title and Content Layout with List
• Table of contents

• 1.Meaning of sovereignty
• 2.Elements of sovereignty
• 3.Types of sovereignty

• 4.Definitions of sovereignty
• 5.John Austin’s theory of Sovereignty
• 6.Power

• 7.Authority

Sovereignty
• Sovereignty, though its meanings have varied across history, its core
meaning is supreme power or authority within a territory. It is a
modern notion of political authority. The state is the political
institution in which sovereignty is embodied.
• The word sovereignty is taken from Latin word ‘Supernus’ meaning
supreme. The supreme power of the state is its sovereign power.

Sovereignty
• The supreme, absolute, and uncontrollable power by which any
independent state is governed; supreme political authority; the
supreme will; paramount control of the constitution and frame of
government and its administration; the self-sufficient source of
political power, from which all specific political powers are derived;
the international independence of a state, combined with the right
and power of regulating its internal affairs without foreign dictation;
also a political society, or state, which is sovereign and independent.
• The power to do everything in a state without accountability, to other
countries, to execute and to apply them, to impose and collect taxes
and levy contributions, to make war or peace, to form treaties of
alliance or of commerce with foreign nations.

SOVEREIGN STATE
• One which governs itself independently free from any foreign power.

Two aspects of Sovereignty
• Internal- internal sovereignty means that the state is powerful
internally. Implies the power of a sate over individuals, citizens,
subjects and associations.
• External – external sovereignty implies the freedom of a state from
foreign control. Creating the independence of the state.

Elements/ Characteristics
• Sovereignty is a permanent concept of the state. So long as a state
lasts, its sovereignty also lasts. Changes in government do not affect
its continuity and permanence. A king or a sovereign or a dictator may
die or be overthrown, sovereignty does not become extinct.
• It is exclusive. It is the only power of the state. It means that there can
be only one sovereign in a state. This feature is identical with
indivisibility of sovereignty.
• Sovereign powers can’t be divided equally. Sovereignty, it is said, is
indivis-ible and cannot be divided into parts. According to Calhoun,
"Sover-eignty is an entire thing; to divide it is to destroy it.

Elements/ Characteristics
• It is inalienable. It can’t be transferred from one to another. This means that
the state cannot transfer its sovereignty without its own death. Sovereignty
being the vital element of the state, its alienability is tantamount to
committing suicide on its part.
• It is an original power
• Sovereignty is defined as absolute, supreme and unlimited power. There is
no other power higher than the state that can issue commands to it. The
sovereign is the source of all laws and rights. It is above law.
• It is all comprehensive. The sovereign has jurisdiction over all
persons, things, associations and groups within the state territory. No person
or association can claim exemption from its laws. Its laws are universal.It
controls the external behavior of each person and association and thereby
brings about social order.

Types of Sovereignty
• Titular sovereignty: implies the power of a person theoretically and
not practically.
• Real sovereignty: implies the power of a person both theory and
practice.
• Legal sovereignty: the sovereign powers in the handle of law making
body
• The laws made by the legal sovereignty is final.
• The laws are absolute
• The violation of a law will result a punishment.

• Political sovereignty is a power behind legal sovereignty. Political
sovereignty implies the electorate.
• Features:
• It is a vague term.
• Political sovereignty doesn’t include the actual behaviour of people.
• Political sovereignty becomes active only once in a 5 year.

• Popular sovereignty: means the supreme in the hands of the people. It
is a system way the government functions on the basis of UAF. Popular
sovereignty implies government based ballet.
• De jure (by law), Sovereignty: derived from the Latin word by law.
Who has occupied by sovereignty. Power and authority legally.
• De facto (by faults) Sovereignty: It is sovereign by fact. He is an
authority who has occupied the post by forced possession which is a
fact (reason).

John Austin’s theory of sovereignty
• Other names of the theory
• Absolute theory of sovereignty
• Monistic theory of sovereignty
• Non-pluralistic theory
• Single theory

• John Austin is an English jurist. He has given the definition of law and
sovereignty.
• Law:
• Law is a command of a superior to an inferior
• State and sovereignty is superior. People are inferior.

• Theory: “ If a determinate human superior not in the habit of like
superior obedience but receives habitual obedience from the bulk of
given society, then that society is political and independent and that
sovereign is the determinate human superior.”

• Features of the theory:
• Every state has a determinate human superior
• The human superior will not obey the orders of like superior
• The entire society will follow the orders of determinate human superior
• His command is a law
• Violation of his command will result in punishment
• The society, which has a determinate human superior, is a political society,
which is independent and free from external control

• Criticism:
• His theory stands for absolute monarchy
• Austin’s theory is against democratic principle
• John Austin’s theory glorifies dictatorship
• His theory violates the universal principle of law
• Pluralist scholars criticize Austin theory
• John Austin theory gives importance to only one source of law

• Sources of law, which are not there in Austin theory
• Customs
• Religion
• Judicial decisions
• Dharma
• Legislation: law made by legislature
• Commentary: commentary given by experts

Power
• Power is the capability of doing or accomplishing something
essentially power is the bottom line of leadership.
• Any person who influences you in some way shape or form has power.
weather the CEO of the company or your best friends , if you do
anything based on their suggestion they have power over you.
Sometimes power is mutual as in friendship and sometime it is not , as
in hierarchy
• Power may be regarded as the ability to determine the behavior of
others or to decide the outcome of the conflict where there is
disagreement. It is likely to be resolved according to the relative
resources of power of the available to the participants

Power
• 2 types of power
• Personalized power
• Socialized power

• Five sources of power
• Legitimate power -Based on position or formal authority.

• Reward power -The power to give pay, raises promotion, praise interesting projects another and rewards to
subordinates.
• Coercive power-The power to give or withhold punishment such as suspension, termination, or even the
withholding of praise and goodwill.
• Information Power : Power that comes from access to and control over information.
• Referent power:Power that arises from one’s personality or physical or other abilities which induce others to
believe in and follow that person.
• Expert Power: Based on knowledge or information value.

Power
• Legitimate power is a legal power, an authorized power it is a power used by a
person because he is authorized to do so
• Reward power –a reward power is whom employer believes that they are going to
get some type of reward for doing their job or by following their supervision order.
• Coercive power – Is supervisor pursued an employee to their work or they can be
fired or demoted
• Expert power – comes from experience or education
• If you are known as an expert people will count with your opinion and more likely to
follow your leadership.
• Referent power – a power by which you are recognized by others
• Referent power is based on desires others have to identify favorably with us or with
what we symbolize to them

Features of power
• Power is universal

• Power is an essence of politics
• Power is related to sovereignty
• Power differs from person to person

• Power depends on the type of govt
• Power is based on authority and influence
• Power depends on situation

• Power is a comprehensive concept

A Teacher's Authority

Authority
• The word authority is taken from the English word
Authorised.
• Authority refers to the use of power that is seen as
legitimate or socially approved/recognized.
• This concept of authority is delegated from one
person or organisation to another.
Teachers have authority because
students recognize that their
power over the classroom is
legitimate.

Authority
1789 engraving of the destruction of the tea

• Authority only lasts so long as people

recognize the legitimacy of power. But when
people begin to question the legitimacy of
that power, it loses authority.
For example, when American colonists began
to question the legitimacy of Britain's rule
over the colony, Britain lost its authority.
Without authority, Britain's power had to be
backed by force.

Americans throwing Cargoes of the Tea Ships into the
River, at Boston

Authority
• Max Weber, in his sociological and
philosophical work, identified and
distinguished three types of
legitimate authority.
• Legitimate authority is that which is
recognized as legitimate and justified
by both the ruler and the ruled.

Maximilian Karl Emil "Max" Weber a
German sociologist, philosopher, and
political economist whose ideas
influenced social theory, social
research, and the entire discipline of
sociology.

Authority
•

RATIONAL-LEGAL AUTHORITY:
It is that form of authority which depends for its legitimacy on
formal rules and established laws of the state, which are usually
written down and are often very complex.
The power of the rational legal authority is mentioned in the
constitution. Modern societies depend on legal-rational authority.
Note: Government officials are the best example of this form of
authority, which is prevalent all over the world.

Authority
• TRADITIONAL AUTHORITY:
• Traditional authority, derives from longestablished customs, habits and social structures.
When power passes from one generation to

another, then it is known as traditional authority.
• Note: The right of hereditary monarchs to rule
furnishes an obvious example. The Tudor dynasty
in England and the ruling families of Mewar, in

Rajasthan (India) are some examples of traditional
authority.

Authority
• CHARISMATIC AUTHORITY:
• Here, the charisma of the individual or the leader plays an
important role. Charismatic authority is that authority which is
derived from "the gift of grace" or when the leader claims that his
authority is derived from a "higher power" (e.g. God or natural law
or rights) or "inspiration", that is superior to both the validity of
traditional and rational-legal authority and followers accept this
and are willing to follow this higher or inspired authority.
Note: NT Rama Rao, a matinee idol, who went on to become one of
the most powerful Chief Ministers of Andhra Pradesh.

Influence
• Influence: It is the capacity to have an effect on the character, development or behaviour
of someone.
• A charismatic team member, or truly great boss, would be a person with influence. You
can have influence whether you are granted authority or not. Influence can come from

experience, ability, or charisma; it cannot be granted via promotion or election.

• INFLUENCE AND AUTHORITY:

Influence represents an ability to affect outcomes and depends on personality.

Diference between Authority and Influence
Authority
1) Authority is the static structural aspect of power in organisation.
2) Authority is the formal aspect of power.
3) Authority refers to the formally synchronised right to make final decision.

4) Authority implies involuntary submission by subordinate.
5) Authorised flows downwards and it is unidirectional.
6) The source of authority is solely structural.
7) Authority is circumscribed that is the domain scope and legitimacy of the power are
specific

Diference between Authority and Influence
Influence

1) Influence is the dynamic tactical element.
2) Influence is informal aspect.
3) Influence is not sanctioned by the organisation and is therefore not a matter of
organisational rights.
4) Influence implies voluntary submission and does not necessarily entail a superior
subordinate relationship.
5) Influence is multi-directional and can flow upwards, downwards or horizontally.
6) The source of influence may be personal characteristic expertise or opportunity.
7) Influence is uncircumscribed that is, its domain scope and legitimacy.

Sovereignty

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Sovereignty