Valsts

Valsts is the Latvian term for the political unit of a country, commonly translated as "state" in English. In political science, a valsts is a legal-political entity characterized by sovereignty, a defined territory, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states.

In public law, valsts also denotes the public institutions and authorities that exercise governance—such as the legislature, executive, judiciary, and administrative agencies—collectively forming the state apparatus.

Key features include sovereignty (ultimate authority within the territory and independence from external control), a defined territory, a permanent population, and a government with the legitimacy to make and enforce laws. A state's power is commonly exercised through a monopoly on the legitimate use of force and through institutions that regulate political and economic life.

Variants and classification: states vary by form of government (democratic, autocratic, constitutional monarchies), by administrative structure (unitary or federal), and by electoral and legal systems. They may be recognized as sovereign states in international law and participate in international organizations and treaties.

History and use: The concept of the state has evolved from medieval monarchies to modern nation-states. In Latvia and other Baltic languages, valsts is used to refer to the nation’s government and public administration. The term also encompasses the broader idea of the public order and governance of a people under a central authority.