Home

Hoheitsgebiet

Hoheitsgebiet is a German term used in public international law and constitutional law to denote the territory over which a state exercises its sovereignty and jurisdiction. It refers to the area where the state's laws apply and its authorities can enforce them. The concept is fundamental to statehood, complementing sovereignty.

The components typically regarded as part of Hoheitsgebiet include the state's land territory; internal waters such

Delimitation and disputes: The exact scope is defined by constitutions, statutes, treaties, and international law. Borders

Relationship to related concepts: Hoheitsgebiet is closely linked to Staatsgebiet and Gebietshoheit. The terms differ in

as
rivers
and
lakes
and
port
areas;
the
territorial
sea
(up
to
12
nautical
miles
from
the
baseline)
and
the
airspace
above
it;
and
the
seabed
and
subsoil
up
to
the
extent
of
the
state's
sovereign
rights,
including
the
continental
shelf
and,
where
applicable,
exclusive
economic
zones
(EEZ).
While
the
EEZ
grants
resource
rights
rather
than
full
sovereignty,
it
is
part
of
the
sphere
of
a
state's
jurisdiction.
and
maritime
boundaries
may
be
disputed
and
are
typically
resolved
by
diplomacy
or
adjudication.
International
law
recognizes
that
transit
rights,
freedom
of
navigation,
and
other
customary
rules
constrain
absolute
sovereignty
in
certain
areas.
emphasis:
Hoheitsgebiet
stresses
the
exercise
of
state
power;
Staatsgebiet
emphasizes
the
territory
as
a
component
of
statehood.
The
concept
evolves
with
developments
in
maritime
and
air
law
and
the
recognition
of
offshore
zones.