Sovereignty is the exclusive right to exercise supreme political (e.g. legislative, judicial, and/or executive) authority over a geographic region, group of people, or oneself.
Word history
The word has been documented in English since circa 1340, meaning preeminence, and as rule (since 1378). It derives from Anglo-French sovereynetee, from Old French souveraineté, from souverain (Sovereign, itself from medieval latinsuperanus which derives from classical Latin superus "superior" or "overness").
Notion
The source or origins of sovereignty (God or the people) must be distinguished from its exercise by branches of government. In democracies, sovereignty is held by the people. This is known as popular sovereignty; it may be exercised directly, as in a popular assembly, or, more commonly, indirectly through the election of representatives to government. This is known as a representative democracy, a system of government currently used in most western nations and former colonies. Popular sovereignty also exists in other forms, such as in constitutional monarchies, usually identical in political reality as in the United Kingdom and Commonwealth realms. Systems of representative democracy can also be mixed with other methods of government, for instance the use of referendums in many countries.
More on [ Sovereignty ]
Center For Indigenous Sovereignty - To facilitate, foster, promote, and encourage the social, economic and cultural sovereignty of Indigenous nations.
IndianRelations.com - Links and articles presenting non-native arguments against Indian tribal sovereignty.
Outaouais Lubicon Solidarity - Organization dedicated to a fair land claim settlement for the Lubicon Cree First Nation of Northern Alberta. Timeline, background information, and what you can do to help.