SOVEREIGN

In Politics, a person, or body of persons, in whom the legislative authority rests in every state. A sovereign state is one in which the jurisdiction of that person or body, within the limits of the state, is absolute and uncontrolled by any foreign authority. The states which composed the German empire were termed, In the language of politics, " mi-souveraines;" because their sov ereignty was qualified by their subordination, in some re spects, to the imperial authority. The same term should seem applicable to the several states in the American Union, which are commonly, but improperly, termed sov ereign; as, on some definite subjects, the power of their legislative bodies is subordinate to that of Congre , or the sovereign body in the Federal Government. Sovereign. An English coin of the value of twenty shillings, the standard weight of which is 5 pennyweights and 3-27 grains, or 123374 troy grains. [s. 1158]