Legal Definitions - civil power

Definition: Civil power, also known as political power, refers to the authority vested in a person or group of people who exercise any function of the state. It is the ability to influence the activities of the body politic.

Examples:

• Sovereign political power: This is the power that is absolute and uncontrolled within its own sphere. It is not subject to the power of any other person or entity and cannot be prevented or annulled by any other power recognized within the constitutional system. For example, the President of the United States has sovereign political power within the limits of the Constitution.
• Subordinate political power: This is the power that is subject in some degree to external control because there exists some superior constitutional power that can prevent, restrict, direct, or annul its operation. For example, a state governor has subordinate political power because their actions can be restricted or annulled by the federal government.

The examples illustrate the definition of civil power by showing the different types of political power that exist. Sovereign political power is absolute and uncontrolled, while subordinate political power is subject to external control. Understanding the different types of civil power is important in understanding how the government operates and how decisions are made.