1. Concept
The general theory of state (German allgemeine Staatslehre), as a sub-discipline of German jurisprudence, today treats fundamental questions of the theory of the state independently of the state law or constitutional law of any particular state. The term emerged in the 19th century, initially as a synonym, then as a successor to allgemeines Staatsrecht (general government law), which in turn was a translation of ius publicum universale, which h…