What does the legal doctrine of sovereign immunity entail?

The legal doctrine of sovereign immunity dictates that a state cannot be sued for wrongful acts without its consent. This principle arises from the historical notion that the sovereign, or the state, cannot commit a legal wrong and is thus immune from being sued in its own courts. While there are exceptions where states may waive this immunity or where federal laws might allow for suits against state entities, the general rule is that states enjoy protection from litigation.

This principle is important because it preserves the state's ability to govern without the threat of perpetual litigation interfering with its functions and financial resources. In contrast, the other options suggest scenarios that either undermine the concept of sovereign immunity or misrepresent its application—such as the idea that a state is universally liable for civil suits, which contradicts the essence of immunity, or that a state can prosecute individuals without limitations, which does not relate to the concept of civil liability.