This chapter covers three basic concepts of political science: Sovereignty (meaning, characteristics, aspects, kinds and Pluralism), Equality (meaning, dimensions, types and equality in the Indian Constitution) and Liberty (meaning, types and safeguards).
1. Sovereignty – Meaning and Origin
- Sovereignty is derived from the Latin word 'superanus', meaning 'supreme' or 'paramount'.
- Roman jurists and the civilians of the middle ages used 'summa potestas' and 'Plenitude potestas' for the supreme power of the state.
- In political science the term dates back to Bodin's 'The Republic' (1576).
- Sovereignty represents the legal supremacy of the state; the constitution is the representation of sovereignty.
- The word sovereign in the Preamble of the Constitution of India means the state can legislate on any subject in conformity with constitutional limitations.