stät

Stát is a political entity that asserts sovereignty over a defined territory and permanent population. In international law, a state typically satisfies four core criteria: a permanent population, a defined territory, a functioning government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. Sovereignty means that the state has ultimate authority within its borders and that it can participate in diplomacy, treaties, and international organizations.

States may be unitary or federal, and may adopt various forms of government, including republics and constitutional monarchies. A constitution or fundamental laws establish the legal framework, rights, and the division of powers among legislative, executive, and judicial branches. The legitimacy of a state commonly derives from popular consent, legal norms, and, in many cases, elections.

Recognition by other states and membership in international institutions are important aspects of statehood, although de facto control of territory can precede formal recognition. States may be sovereign but engage in supranational arrangements that transfer some competences, as in federations or unions.

Historically, the modern concept of the state evolved from city-states and empires to the contemporary nation-state system, shaped by processes such as nationalism, decolonization, and constitutionalism. Contemporary challenges include state fragility, sovereignty disputes, secession movements, and governance in the face of globalization.

In Czech and Slovak usage, the term stát denotes a political state—the sovereign community that governs a defined territory and population.