Which concept originated with the maxim 'that kind can do no wrong'?

• A. Sovereign immunity
• B. Absolute Immunity
• C. Voluntary Compliance
• D. Dillon's Rule

Answer: (A)

Sovereign immunity—the idea that government cannot be sued without its consent. This concept comes from the old belief that the sovereign (the king or state) could “do no wrong,” so one could not bring a lawsuit against the crown without its permission. In practice, it means governmental entities have immunity from lawsuits unless a law waives that immunity or allows a claim. That’s why, in Texas and many jurisdictions, suits against the state or its subdivisions require explicit statutory authorization.

This is different from absolute immunity, which protects certain officials for actions taken in their official capacity but isn’t about the general immunity of the government itself. It’s also separate from Dillon’s Rule, which concerns the distribution of power between state and local governments. Voluntary compliance is about whether people choose to follow regulations, not about legal immunity.