--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: As a matter of law the states recognized…" description: "\"As a matter of law the states recognized no constraints on their legislative scope other than those that were self-imposed. Even where particular state..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/immanuel-wallerstein-11305_body_as-a-matter-of-law-the-states-recognized_1785284.jpg" --- # As a matter of law the states recognized no constraints on… ![“As a matter of law the states recognized no constraints on their legislative scope other than those that were self-imposed. Even where particular state constitutions paid ideological lip service to constraints deriving from religious or natural law doctrines, they reserved to some…” quote by Immanuel Wallerstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/immanuel-wallerstein-11305_body_as-a-matter-of-law-the-states-recognized_1785284.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/immanuel-wallerstein-11305_body_as-a-matter-of-law-the-states-recognized_1785284.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/647/immanuel-wallerstein-11305_body_as-a-matter-of-law-the-states-recognized_1785284.jpg) > “As a matter of law the states recognized no constraints on their legislative scope other than those that were self-imposed. Even where particular state constitutions paid ideological lip service to constraints deriving from religious or natural law doctrines, they reserved to some constitutionally-defined body or person the right to interpret these doctrines.” [Immanuel Wallerstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-wallerstein/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. States claim unlimited legislative power, only limited by self‑imposed rules and interpretations by designated bodies. **In simple terms:** States say they have no limits except those they set themselves. Key Takeaway Recognize that legal authority is often self‑defined. Themes politics law sovereignty Mood critical analytical Type theoretical political When to use this quote - legislative drafting - judicial review - policy advocacy Key Concepts state power constitutional interpretation self‑imposed limits Questions to Reflect On - How do self‑imposed constraints affect democratic oversight? - Who decides the legitimacy of interpretive bodies? A Different Perspective Legal limits may be ignored in practice, undermining accountability. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Body](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/body/) [Capitalism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/capitalism/) [Constitution](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitution/) [Constitutionally Defined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constitutionally-defined-1897943/) [Constraints](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constraints/) [Constraints Legislative](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/constraints-legislative-1897941/) [Defined](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defined/) [Doctrine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doctrine/) [Ideological](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ideological/) [Law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law/) [Law States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/law-states-1897944/) [Legislative Scope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legislative-scope-1897942/) [Lip service](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lip-service/) [Lips](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lips/) [Matter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/matter/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Natural law](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural-law/) [Paid](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/paid/) [Particular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/particular/) [Persons](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/persons/) [Religious](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religious/) [Reserved](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reserved/) [Scope](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/scope/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [State Constitutions](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/state-constitutions-436167/) [States](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/states/) ## Related quotes > [“Parkinson’s law. 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First, the process of meritocracy has been proclaimed as an official virtue instead of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-wallerstein/what-is-different-in-capitalist-civilization-has-been-two-things/) [Immanuel Wallerstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-wallerstein/) > [Finally, states have monopolized, or sought to monopolize, armed force.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/immanuel-wallerstein/finally-states-have-monopolized-or-sought-to-monopolize-armed-force/) [Immanuel Wallerstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-wallerstein/) [Explore all 60 Immanuel Wallerstein quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/immanuel-wallerstein/) ## More Body quotes > [Most of us are convinced that we are our egos, which is who we think we are. 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