What do we call the lines that delineate countries and states?

Political boundaries are the lines that delineate countries, states, and other political units. These boundaries are established through various means such as treaties, agreements, and historical claims. They often dictate governance, jurisdiction, and the legal framework within a specified area, marking the limits of where one authority's power ends and another's begins.

Geographic boundaries might refer to features such as rivers or mountain ranges, but they do not specifically define political control. Cultural boundaries typically refer to areas that are defined by shared cultural traits, such as language or religion, rather than by official governance lines. Economic boundaries involve divisions based on economic factors which do not primarily pertain to the political authority of an area. Thus, political boundaries are the correct term when discussing the delineation of countries and states.