Legality

Legality refers to the state or quality of being in accordance with the law. It is often used to refer to a specific, enforceable principle or rule codified in an established legal system. In the broadest sense, legality is used to denote the network of laws within a society and the compliance to these laws.

Definition

The term "legality" is derived from Latin legalis, which means "pertaining to the law". It is a principle under which a person or organization is bound to act in accordance to the laws established by a government or a judicial system. The concept of legality can be complex, as laws can vary significantly across different jurisdictions and cultures.

Types of Legality

There are several types of legality, including:

• Constitutional Legality: This refers to the legality of actions or laws in relation to a country's constitution. If a law or action is deemed unconstitutional, it is considered illegal.

• Criminal Legality: This refers to the legality of actions in relation to criminal laws. Actions that are considered illegal under criminal law are often punishable by penalties such as fines or imprisonment.

• Civil Legality: This refers to the legality of actions in relation to civil laws, which often govern disputes between individuals or organizations.

Legality and Morality

The concept of legality is often contrasted with that of morality. While legality refers to compliance with laws, morality refers to compliance with moral standards. An action can be legal but not moral, and vice versa. This dichotomy often leads to debates in areas such as ethics, philosophy, and law.

See Also

• Rule of law
• Legal ethics
• Legal theory
• Legal positivism
• Natural law