4 Elements of State

4 ELEMENTS OF STATE

1)Territory - A state cannot exist without territory. Territory refers to land, surrounding water upto 3 nautical miles, as well as the air above the land and water. Nomadic settlements did not possess any permanent territory. Hence, they cannot be called a state.

2)Population - A state fundamentally comprises of a permanent population over which it exercises its unlimited authority. The nature of the state depends upon the quality and quantity of its population. No ideal size of population can be stated. Aristotle stated "A population must be large enough to be self-sufficient, but small enough to be well-governed." A good population makes a good state; a bad one, a bad state.

3)Government - It is a body of a few people who administer the population and are meant to express the will of the state. The government has limited power, as opposed to the state's unlimited authority. The government is subject to change and is bound to obey will of the people as well as state. To equate the Government with State is a dangerous, yet common mistake.

4)Sovereignity - It is the soul of a state. It implies that the state is independent from external interference, as well as can maintain integrity within itself. India could not be referred to as a state prior to 1947, as it did not have an independent government.

DEFINE STATE - commonly refers to either the present condition of a system or entity, or to a governed entity (such as a country) or sub-entity (such as an autonomous territory of a country).

DEFINE NATION - a large aggregate of people united by common descent, history, culture, or language, inhabiting a particular country or territory.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT

* A state is an organized political community occupying a definite territory, having an organized government, and possessing internal and external sovereignty. Recognition of the state's claim to independence by other states, enabling it to enter into...