What do we call the power of states to govern themselves?

The term that refers to the power of states to govern themselves is sovereignty. Sovereignty signifies that a state has the ultimate authority over its territory and is free from external control. This concept underlines the independence and self-determination of a state, allowing it to create and enforce its own laws, establish governance structures, and engage in diplomatic relations.

In discussing the other terms, autonomy refers to the degree of self-governance that a state or entity may have but does not encompass the full spectrum of power associated with sovereignty. Federalism describes the division of powers between a central authority and regional governments; while it relates to how states operate within a larger governance framework, it does not specifically define their self-governing power. Delegated authority refers to powers that are granted by one entity to another, typically from a higher level of government to a lower one, which again does not capture the essence of a state’s ability to govern itself independently.