Legal Definitions - political power

Definition: Political power refers to the authority and ability to influence the activities of the government or the body politic. It can be absolute and uncontrolled within its own sphere or subject to external control by a superior constitutional power.

• Sovereign Political Power: This refers to the absolute and uncontrolled power of a government within its own sphere. For example, the President of the United States has the power to veto bills passed by Congress, which cannot be prevented or annulled by any other power recognized within the constitutional system.
• Subordinate Political Power: This refers to the power that is subject to external control by a superior constitutional power. For example, the governor of a state has the power to veto bills passed by the state legislature, but this power can be overridden by a two-thirds majority vote in the legislature.

These examples illustrate how political power can be exercised in different ways depending on the constitutional system in place. In a sovereign political power system, the government has absolute control within its own sphere, while in a subordinate political power system, the government's power is subject to external control by a superior constitutional power.