Title of territory is based on sovereignty, which is "Sovereignty in the relations between States signifies independence. Independence in regard to a portion of the globe is their right to exercise therein, to the exclusion of any other State, the functions of a State". (a) a State ought to be able to effectively control its own territory, and is deemed responsible for acts occurring in its territory. if a state can assert control over territory, without effective protest from other States, over a long enough period of time, it may be able to claim title ot the territory. Since all States need to possess territory to function as a State, the mechanisms for determining territorial sovereignty are of great signifcance to States.