they lack sovereignty
There is one main characteristic of a state that the 50 states lack. That characteristic is sovereignty, which would make them completely independent.
Constitution
The basic characteristic that individual 50 states lack is full sovereignty. While states have certain powers and responsibilities within their borders, they ultimately operate under the authority of the federal government.
The term "quasi-states" typically refers to entities that possess some characteristics of a state, such as a defined territory and population, but lack full international recognition or sovereignty. The United States, as a recognized sovereign state and a member of international organizations, does not fit this definition. However, it has territories like Puerto Rico and Guam, which could be considered quasi-states due to their limited political status and lack of full representation in Congress. Overall, while the U.S. itself is not a quasi-state, it does have components that exhibit some quasi-state characteristics.
City-states did not share a centralized government system. Each city-state operated independently with its own government structure and leadership, leading to a lack of uniformity in governance among the different city-states.
its dissenters are imprisoned or dismissed from the system
An unqualified state is often referred to as a "non-state" or "failed state." These terms describe regions that lack effective governance, political stability, or the ability to provide basic services and security to their citizens. In such states, the government may be unable to maintain control, leading to widespread lawlessness, conflict, and humanitarian crises.
The three basic characteristics of language are arbitrariness (the lack of inherent connection between words and their meanings), productivity (the ability to create and understand infinite new sentences), and displacement (the capacity to talk about things not present in the immediate environment).
Animals can be identified by four basic characteristics: they are multicellular organisms, they are heterotrophic (meaning they obtain their food by consuming other organisms), they lack cell walls, and they typically exhibit movement at some stage of their life cycle. Additionally, most animals reproduce sexually, although some can also reproduce asexually. These characteristics distinguish them from other life forms, such as plants and fungi.
The literacy rate for the state of Idaho is 89 percent. About 11 percent of the population of the state lack any basic literacy skills.
Examples would be Somalioa, Congo, Afghanistan, Iraq, East Timor, and Bosnia. They have internation agencies performing state roles on behalf of the host states, their political system is disintegrating or embryonic form, and lack a clearly defined market system.
The Tagalog translation of "indigency" is "kahirapan" or "kawalan ng kakayahan sa buhay." It refers to a state of extreme poverty or lack of means to meet basic needs.