Final answer:
A sovereign state has supreme and absolute power within its own territory and governs itself independently. Sovereignty implies that a state enforces its own laws and engages internationally without outside interference, typically recognized by other states. Sovereign power is paramount and reflects a state's ultimate authority over its affairs and territory.
Step-by-step explanation:
If a state is sovereign, it has supreme and absolute power within its own territory. Sovereignty signifies the full right and power of a governing body over itself, without any interference from outside sources or bodies. In international law, sovereignty is the exercise of power by a state. A sovereign state is one that governs itself, independent of any foreign influence, with full authority to make decisions regarding war, peace, treaties, and alliances.
A state both exercises and bestows power when it recognizes another state's sovereignty. This recognition is a fundamental aspect of international relations and is essential for the functioning of the international system, which characterizes states as the primary actors.
The sovereign power of a state implies that no other entity or institution has authority over it. The sovereign entity, whether it be the people in a democracy or a monarch in a monarchy, holds the highest authority. Moreover, statehood and sovereignty allow states to enforce their own laws and respond to threats, thereby exerting power within their own borders and protecting their interests.