POL101 LESSON 3

Elements of a State

1. Definition of a State

   A community of persons occupying a definite portion of territory, possessing its own government, and enjoying sovereignty.

2. Key Components of a State

   • People

     • Refers to the population living within the state.

     • Types of people:

       • Citizens

       • Persons/Inhabitants

       • The Electorate

   • Territory

     • The geographical space including land, waters, and aerial space.

     • Types of domains: terrestrial, fluvial, maritime, and aerial.

   • Government

     • The machinery through which the will of the people is expressed and enforced.

     • Distinction: Citizens are part of the state; only a few comprise the government, which is not synonymous with the state.

   • Sovereignty

     • The supreme power of the state to command obedience and maintain freedom from external control.

     • Types of sovereignty: Internal and External.