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Law vocabulary · Legal Systems & Sources of Law

Public law

Meaning in law, with examples

nounCommon term

In law, public law means: The area of law that deals with the state and its relationship with individuals, including constitutional, administrative and criminal law.

In Turkish: kamu hukuku

How it is used

Used in university courses, law firm practice areas and judgments: 'a public law challenge', 'public law remedies', 'public law principles'. In the UK it often refers mainly to judicial review of government decisions. Its counterpart is 'private law'.

Example sentences

  1. She specialises in public law, mainly challenges to immigration decisions.

  2. Tax law is usually classified as public law.

Common collocations

  • public law challenge
  • public law principles
  • public law remedies
  • public and private law
  • private lawThe area of law that governs relationships between private persons and companies, such as contracts, property, family matters and torts.
  • constitutionThe basic set of laws and principles that sets up a state, organises its powers and protects the fundamental rights of its people.
  • judicial reviewThe power of courts to check whether decisions or laws made by public authorities are lawful, and to cancel them if they are not.
  • civil lawA legal system based mainly on written codes, used in most of continental Europe, Latin America and Turkey; also the area of law that deals with private disputes rather than crimes.
  • separation of powersThe principle that the power of the state is divided between the legislature, the executive and the judiciary, so that no single branch controls everything.

More terms: Legal Systems & Sources of Law

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not legal advice.