sovereign citizen

A sovereign citizen is someone who believes they can exempt themselves from government authority—taxes, traffic laws, court jurisdiction—through pseudolegal declarations and document filings.

The movement draws on conspiracy theories about secret government contracts and maritime law supposedly governing individuals.

Sovereign citizens often cite elaborate but legally meaningless arguments when confronted by police or courts: The officer pulled over a sovereign citizen who insisted the traffic stop was unlawful.

The term is used both as self-identification and dismissively by those describing the movement's adherents.