Final answer:
Authority over a political entity, like a province or state, refers to the sovereignty and governance exercised by the state's government, which has sovereign power. This authority is considered legitimate when it is derived from a social contract in democracies.
Step-by-step explanation:
Authority over a political entity, such as a province or a state, involves the sovereignty and governance exercised by a governing body or a leader. Sovereign power is the supreme power that allows a state to govern itself and make decisions free of external control.
The government of a state has the total control over the territory and its population, managing everything from local departments to national policies and military actions. In democratic systems, this power is generally seen as legitimate and is derived from a social contract, where citizens grant authority in exchange for certain protections and services.
A sovereign state has the absolute authority over its territory and the right to make war or peace, form treaties, and alliances with foreign nations.