While population, territory, and government are essential components of a state, sovereignty is the supreme, absolute, and final authority that distinguishes the state from all other organizations. It implies that the state possesses the exclusive right to make and enforce laws within its territory without external interference or internal competition from other associations.

A sovereign state must possess defined territory, a permanent population, a government, and the capacity to enter into relations with other states. Lahore is a city within a sovereign state (Pakistan) and lacks international legal sovereignty, whereas the U.S.A., the former U.S.S.R., and Bangladesh are or were recognized sovereign entities with the authority to conduct independent foreign policy.

Burma (officially Myanmar) is a sovereign state with its own government, territory, and international recognition. Punjab is a sub-national province within a larger state (India or Pakistan), while the Commonwealth of Nations and the United Nations are international organizations composed of sovereign states, not states themselves in the traditional political sense.

The state acts as the parent of law by creating the legislative framework that defines rights and duties. Simultaneously, it is the child of law because the state's own authority and legitimacy are derived from and constrained by the legal system it establishes, ensuring that governance operates within a predictable and binding framework.

The four pillars of the state are population (the people), territory (the land), government (the administrative machinery), and sovereignty (the supreme authority). These elements together create the legal and political framework necessary for an entity to be recognized as a state under international law, as established by the Montevideo Convention.

An unwritten constitution is not enacted by a single legislative act at a specific time. Instead, it evolves over centuries through historical precedents, judicial decisions, conventions, and long-standing customs. These elements collectively form the framework of governance, allowing the system to adapt organically to societal changes without the need for formal, periodic constitutional amendments.

A written constitution is characterized by the codification of its core principles and governmental structures into a formal document. While no constitution is entirely devoid of unwritten conventions or judicial interpretations, a 'written' constitution is one where the primary legal framework is explicitly set forth in a single or a few foundational documents.

A conventional or enacted constitution is one that is deliberately created and adopted by a constituent assembly or a formal legislative process at a specific point in time. Unlike an evolutionary constitution that develops over centuries through custom and practice, an enacted constitution is a product of conscious human design, intended to establish the fundamental laws and structure of a new or reformed political order.

Political stability is a prerequisite for the effective functioning of constitutional government. In societies where political processes are volatile, institutions are often weak, and the rule of law is frequently undermined by power struggles. This instability prevents the consistent application of constitutional principles and hinders the development of a culture of legality, which is essential for a functioning constitutional state.

James Wilford Garner is widely credited with this specific definition of the state in his seminal work on political science. The definition emphasizes four essential elements: population, territory, government, and sovereignty. While the provided answer key lists Holland, academic consensus attributes this definition to Garner. This discrepancy suggests a potential error in the source material.