Definition

Noun: 1. The right and power to interpret and apply the law: The official authority granted to a person, institution, or court to make legal decisions and enforce laws within a defined scope or area.

Usage

• Legal power is a formal term used primarily in legal and governmental contexts.
• It describes the legitimate authority derived from law, such as a constitution or statute.
• It is often discussed in relation to the limits, scope, or exercise of such authority.

Examples

• The state legislature has the legal power to enact new tax laws.
• The agency's legal power to regulate these industries was confirmed by the Supreme Court.
• The contract grants the board the legal power to make binding financial decisions.

Advanced Usage

• Delegation of legal power: The act of transferring authority from one body or person to another.
  • The mayor has the legal power to delegate certain responsibilities to city departments.
• Ultra vires (Latin for "beyond the powers"): An act performed without the legal power or authority to do so.
  • The court ruled that the company's action was ultra vires and therefore void.

Variants and Related Words

• Jurisdiction (n): Often used synonymously with "legal power," especially regarding courts and legal authority over a geographic area or subject matter. (e.g., )
• Authority (n): A broader term that includes legal power but can also refer to power derived from expertise or position.
• Competence (n): In legal contexts, the specific area or matter over which a court or official has legal power.
• Mandate (n): An official order or commission to act, which confers legal power.

Synonyms

• Authority
• Jurisdiction
• Mandate
• Prerogative (in specific contexts)
• Competence (legal)

Antonyms

• Powerlessness
• Incompetence (legal)
• Lack of authority

Related Phrases

• Wield legal power: To exercise or use legal authority.
  • The judge must wield her legal power impartially.
• Scope of legal power: The defined limits or extent of authority.
  • The investigation focused on whether the officer acted within the scope of his legal power.
• Source of legal power: The origin (e.g., constitution, statute) from which authority is derived.
  • The source of the president's legal power is the national constitution.

Noun

1. (law) the right and power to interpret and apply the law
   • courts having jurisdiction in this district