Definition

1. Adjective:

   • Beyond legal power or authority: Describes an act, decision, or contract performed by a person, official, or body that exceeds the legal limits of their power or authority. Such acts are typically invalid and unenforceable.
   • Example: "The court ruled the city council's decision was ultra vires and therefore null and void."

2. Adverb:

   • Beyond the scope of legal power: Describes the manner in which an action is performed, indicating it was done in excess of or outside the granted legal authority.
   • Example: "The director acted ultra vires when he signed the agreement without board approval."

Usage

• Legal Context: This term is almost exclusively used in legal and formal administrative contexts to challenge the validity of actions by governments, corporations, public officials, or other statutory bodies.
• Common Collocations: Often used with words like , , , , , .
• Position in Sentence: Can function as a predicate adjective (following a linking verb like "was") or as an adverb modifying a verb (e.g., "acted ultra vires").

Examples

• Adjective:

  • The company's acquisition was deemed ultra vires because it fell outside the objectives stated in its memorandum of association.
  • An ultra vires regulation cannot be enforced by the government agency.

• Adverb:

  • The charity's trustees spent the funds ultra vires, on purposes not permitted by its charter.
  • If a government minister legislates ultra vires, the courts can strike down those laws.

Advanced Usage

• Doctrine of Ultra Vires: A principle in corporate and administrative law that limits a corporation or statutory body to acts within the powers expressly or implicitly granted to it by its constitution, charter, or governing statute.
  • The doctrine of ultra vires is less strictly applied to modern corporations than it was in the past.

Variants and Related Words

• Intra vires (Adjective/Adverb): The opposite of ; meaning within the legal power or authority.
  • The board's resolution was intra vires and binding on the company.

Synonyms

• Unauthorized (Adj.): Not having official permission or approval. (Less specific to legal authority.)
• Unlawful (Adj.): Not conforming to, permitted by, or recognized by law or rules. (Broader term.)
• Beyond one's competence/authority (Phrase): A descriptive phrase with similar meaning.

Antonyms

• Intra vires (Adj./Adv.): Within the legal power or authority.
• Authorized (Adj.): Having official permission or approval.
• Lawful (Adj.): Conforming to, permitted by, or recognized by law.

Related Phrases

• Acting without authority: A more general phrase describing similar conduct.
• Excess of jurisdiction: A related legal phrase often used for courts or tribunals acting beyond their legal power.

Adjective

1. beyond the legal power or authority of a person or official or body etc
   • an ultra vires contract

Adverb

1. beyond the scope or in excess of legal power or authority