legitimacy

legitimacy
   Closely related to authority, legitimacy refers in general to the people’s acceptance of a law, ruling or regime itself as valid. The term is usually used in relation to an entire system of government, whereas authority often refers to a specific position. Legitimacy refers to whether people accept the validity of the system, or sometimes of an act of Parliament. If the authority of a government is generally accepted by those who are governed, then we describe the regime as being legitimate. Legitimate rule implies some justification for the exercise of rule and power, such as the general consent of the governed, as expressed in popular elections. Those who are governed accept the right of the rulers to make decisions.

Glossary of UK Government and Politics . 2013.

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  • legitimacy — UK US /ləˈdʒɪtɪməsi/ noun [U] ► LAW the fact of being allowed by law or done according to the rules of an organization or activity: the legitimacy of sth »Several judges expressed doubts as to the legitimacy of the tribunal.… …   Financial and business terms

  • legitimacy — legitimacy, legitimation Legitimation refers to the process by which power is not only institutionalized but more importantly is given moral grounding. Legitimacy (or authority) is what is accorded to such a stable distribution of power when it… …   Dictionary of sociology

  • legitimacy — le·git·i·ma·cy /li ji tə mə sē/ n: the quality or state of being legitimate Merriam Webster’s Dictionary of Law. Merriam Webster. 1996. legitimacy …   Law dictionary

  • Legitimacy — Le*git i*ma*cy ( [i^]*m[.a]*s[y^]), n. [See {Legitimate}, a.] The state, or quality, of being legitimate, or in conformity with law; hence, the condition of having been lawfully begotten, or born in wedlock. [1913 Webster] The doctrine of Divine… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • legitimacy — 1690s, of children; general use by 1836; see LEGITIMATE (Cf. legitimate) + CY (Cf. cy). Legitimateness an earlier word for it …   Etymology dictionary

  • legitimacy — [lə jit′ə mə sē] n. the quality or state of being legitimate …   English World dictionary

  • Legitimacy — selfref| For the , see . |Legitimacy, from the Latin word legitimare (to make lawful), may refer to:* Legitimacy (law) * Legitimacy of standards * Legitimacy (political science) * Legitimate expectation * Legitimate peripheral participation *… …   Wikipedia

  • legitimacy — n. 1) to confirm; establish the legitimacy (of smt.) 2) to challenge, question the legitimacy (of smt.) * * * [lɪ dʒɪtɪməsɪ] establish the legitimacy (of smt.) question the legitimacy (of smt.) to challenge to confirm …   Combinatory dictionary

  • legitimacy — le|git|i|ma|cy [ lə dʒıtəməsi ] noun uncount 1. ) the fact that something is legal: Several countries have questioned the legitimacy of the new government. 2. ) the fact that something is fair and reasonable …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • legitimacy — UK [lɪˈdʒɪtɪməsɪ] / US [ləˈdʒɪtəməsɪ] noun [uncountable] 1) the fact that something is legal Several countries have questioned the legitimacy of the new government. 2) the fact that something is fair and reasonable …   English dictionary

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