Jean Bodin – who was the first to explain the concept of sovereignty said “Sovereignty is the supreme power over citizens and subjects unrestrained by law.”
According to Hugo Grotius “Sovereignty is the supreme power vested in him whose acts are not subjected to any other whose will can’t be can override.”
Characteristics of Sovereignty:
a. Permanent: Sovereignty is permanent. Every state is sovereign it is accordingly permanent. The death of the rules or the change in government doesn’t mean any change in sovereign power. It comes to an end when the state is destroyed or is conquered and ruled by some external power.
b. Universality: Sovereignty embraces each and every person and every association within the territory of the state. No individual or association in the state can disobey the sovereign authority of the state.
c. Sovereignty can’t be transfered: The state has no right to give away its sovereignty. When a state loses or has to give up a part of the territory and population to another state, that part comes under the control of that state.
d. Indivisible: Sovereignty can’t be divided. Division of sovereignty leads to destruction of sovereignty.
f. Absoluteness: Sovereignty is absolute. There can be no legal power within the state, superior to it. All individuals, associations come under the absolute power of the state. The state is completely independent.
