Carl Schmitt was a German legal and political theorist, known for his influential ideas on sovereignty and the state of exception. Born in 1888, he became a prominent figure in the early 20th century, particularly during the Weimar Republic. Schmitt argued that the sovereign is the one who decides on the exception, meaning that in times of crisis, a leader can suspend laws to restore order. His work has been both praised and criticized, especially for its association with Nazism and its implications for democracy. Schmitt's concepts, such as the "friend-enemy" distinction, continue to be studied in political theory, influencing debates on political authority and constitutional law.