Sovereign state explained to kids

A sovereign state is a political entity that is independent and self-governing. A sovereign state is not subject to the authority of any other state or entity. The government of a sovereign state has the exclusive right to make decisions about its territory and its people. Sovereign states are recognized by other sovereign states, international organizations, and the law of nations. A sovereign state has a permanent population, a defined territory, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other sovereign states. There are many different types of sovereign states, including republics, monarchies, and dictatorships. The United States of America, for example, is a federal republic. The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy. North Korea is a dictatorship. Sovereign states are not to be confused with dependent territories, which are under the authority of another state. Dependent territories are not sovereign and do not have the same rights and privileges as sovereign states.