Legal status

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Status (law). (Discuss)

Legal status of Persons
Concepts
Citizenship Nationality Naturalization Leave to Remain Immigration Illegal immigration Statelessness
Legal designations
Citizen Native-born citizen Naturalized citizen Dual-citizen Alien Migrant worker Refugee Illegal immigrant Political prisoner Stateless person Administrative detain
Social politics
Immigration law Nationality law Nationalism Nativism (politics) Immigration debate This box: view • talk • edit

In law legal status refers to the concept of individuals having a particular place in society, relative to the law, as it determines the laws which affect them. Degrees of status, as well as the rights and statutes which apply, vary in accordance with several standard (as well as specialized designations).

Various terms are used by different jurisdictions to refer to people and their status under the law. These may include terms such as:

• slave^[1]
• citizen or elector
• minor, ie a legal child
• enlisted soldier, serviceman or conscript
• convicted felon
• enemy combatant or prisoner of war

Most such terms have technical (legal) meanings in their respective jurisdictions or under international law. However, some such terms are politically controversial and their use may induce strong emotions, eg:

• illegal immigrant, refugee or exile
• political prisoner

[edit] References