Nkwede, J.O. and Itumo, A. (eds.), Fundamentals of Poliical Science. Abakaliki: Peace Concepts 2016 BASIC CONCEPTS IN POLITICAL SCIENCE David M. E. Nwogbaga, Ph.D Department of Political Science Ebonyi State University, Abakaliki Introduction There are several other basic concepts in political science in addition to the major ones: state and power. These other concepts are very essential to the understanding and operation of state and power in politics and political science. Among these concepts are: sovereignty, legitimacy, development, underdevelopment, rule of law, public policy, influence, ideology, nation, society, constitution, constitutionalism, citizen, rights and obligation, democracy, public administration, political economy, international relations, conflict, and authority etc. Although other concepts abound, these are the concern in this context. Sovereignty The concept of sovereignty has recently become the focal point of an interdisciplinary debate beyond the initial meaning. The debates have revolved around the questions of “What is sovereignty?”; “Who is the sovereign?”; “Why should there be sovereignty?”; and “How can sovereignty be maintained?”. As derived from old French concept, sovereignty simply means “to rule over” (Roskin, Cord, Medeiros, and Jones, 2003). The concept of sovereignty is closely associated with the writings of Jean Bodin (1529-1596) who is regarded as the author. Jean Bodin defined sovereignty as “unconditional and unrestrained power” or “absolute and perpetual power vested in a commonwealth” (Hoffman and Graham, 2006). Gamble (1963) defined it as an “independent public power that makes organised social life possible”. Hence, sovereignty is designed to assert the character of “public power to make and enforce laws for the purpose of maintaining law and order in the society”[ CITATION Gam631 \l 2057 ]. In line with the definition of Gamble (1963), is Alan’s (1986) submission that sovereignty is best defined as “constitutional independence of a state”. Similarly, whereas Robertson (1993) defined sovereignty as “independent rule by a country or institution over a certain territory or set of political concerns”; Rourke and Boyer (2002) describes it as “political independence from any higher authority”; while Karen (1999) explained it as “the authority of the state, based on recognition by 1