FOUR ELEMENTS OF

THE STATEAlvin John Juarez Neyra || University of the Immaculate Conception || Davao

City

A State is a community of persons more or less numerous occupying a definite portion of territory, having a government of its own to which the great body of inhabitants render obedience and enjoying freedom from external control.

State vs. Nation

State Nationpolitical concept ethnic concept (social

origin, language, customs, traditions, etc.)

not subject to external control

may or may not be independent of external control

maybe composed of several nations

maybe made up of several states

StatePeople

Territory

GovernmentSovereignty

People refers to the inhabitants of the State.

education

skillstech

Territory a fixed portion on the surface of the earth inhabited by the people of the State; varies in area.

Terrestrial(land mass)

Fluvial(land beneath the external territorial

waters)

Maritime(territorial waters)

Aerial(air space above the

terrestrial and maritime)

Government is the instrument that provides the mechanisms in determining, formulating, and implementing the policies of the state.

Legislative Executive Judicial

Sovereignty is the supreme power inherent in a state.

Political/ Legal SovereigntyInternal/ External

Sovereignty

Internal – power to control domestic affairs without external interferences

External – power to direct its relations with other states

Divine Right Theory

Origins of State

Necessity Theory

Paternalistic Theory

Social Contract Theory

Divine Right Theory• The ruler is ordained by God to govern the people.

• References have cited to the laws which Moses received from Mt. Sinai.

Necessity or Force Theory• Maintains that States must have been created through forces, by some great warriors to impose their will upon the weak.

Paternalistic Theory• State origins were attributed to the

enlargement of family which remained under the authority of father or mother.

family clan tribe nation state

Social Contract Theory• States have been formed by deliberate and voluntary compact among the people to form a society and organize government for their common good.

• This theory highlight people’s right to revolt against their bad ruler.