The sum total of authority in a state unrestrained by law is _______

Step 1: Analyze the question The question asks for the term describing the total authority in a state that is not restrained by law. The keywords are "sum total of authority" and "unrestrained by law."

Step 2: Explain the concept In Government (Political Science), sovereignty is the supreme, absolute, and unlimited power of a state to make and enforce laws within its territory. The authority that holds this power is called the sovereign. Writers such as Jean Bodin and John Austin described the sovereign as the supreme authority that is not bound by any higher human law.

Step 3: Evaluate the options

• A. Monarchy: A system of government headed by a king or queen. It is a form of government, not the sum total of authority.
• B. Society: A group of people living together. It is not the term for supreme authority.
• C. Oligarchy: Rule by a small group of people. Again, it is a form of government.
• D. Sovereign: The supreme authority in a state, with unlimited power. This matches the definition.

Step 4: Answer The correct option is **D.

Tip: Link "supreme," "absolute," "unlimited power" and "final authority" with sovereignty. Terms ending in "-archy" (monarchy, oligarchy) usually describe forms of government and are rarely the answer to a question about supreme authority.