Okuzeka
Law vocabulary · Latin Legal Terms

Ultra vires

Meaning in law, with examples

adjectiveAdvanced term

In law, ultra vires means: A Latin phrase meaning 'beyond the powers', used when a public authority, company or official acts outside the legal powers it has been given.

In Turkish: yetki aşımı, yetkisiz, yetki dışı

How it is used

Central in UK public law: a decision or regulation that is 'ultra vires' can be quashed on judicial review. It is used as an adjective ('the regulation is ultra vires') and as an adverb ('the council acted ultra vires'). The opposite is 'intra vires'.

Example sentences

  1. The court held that the minister had acted ultra vires.

  2. If the regulation is ultra vires, the fines imposed under it are invalid.

Common collocations

  • act ultra vires
  • ultra vires decision
  • ultra vires and void
  • intra vires
  • 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.
  • secondary legislationRules made by a minister, government department or other body under powers given to it by an Act, rather than passed directly by parliament.
  • public lawThe area of law that deals with the state and its relationship with individuals, including constitutional, administrative and criminal law.
  • unlawfulNot allowed by law, whether it breaks criminal law, civil law or a regulation; the opposite of lawful.

More terms: Latin Legal Terms

Practise with graded reading

Reading at the right level is the fastest way to make new words stick. Pick free English books by level:

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