ultra vires

Definition

Actions beyond the legal authority or power of a corporation or public body, Latin for 'you can't do that.' The legal version of a kid trying to use their parent's credit card without permission.

Example Usage

The board's decision to enter the pharmaceutical industry was ruled ultra vires, exceeding the corporation's chartered purpose.

Origin

Latin phrase meaning 'beyond the powers,' applied to corporate law in the 19th century

Fun Fact

The doctrine has weakened over time as corporate charters became more broadly written, because nobody wants to be told they can't pivot to NFTs.

Source: Corporate and administrative law terminology

Related Terms

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Liability

The legal concept of whose fault it is, which in practice means whoever has the most money and the fewest lawyers. The foundation upon which the entire legal profession builds its vacation homes.

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remittitur

A court's reduction of an excessive jury award, essentially judicial editing when the jury got a little too generous with someone else's money. The plaintiff can accept it or demand a new trial.

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suing

The formal process of dragging someone to court and demanding compensation for wrongs, whether real, imagined, or somewhere in between. It's the adult version of telling the teacher, except it costs thousands in legal fees and takes years instead of minutes. The nuclear option of dispute resolution that enriches lawyers while both parties slowly lose the will to live through discovery.

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warrant

A court-issued authorization allowing police to search, seize, or arrest—basically the government's permission slip to invade your privacy or freedom. Can also mean a guarantee or justification in non-legal contexts, plus those weird investment securities that confuse everyone. Requires probable cause, though that bar seems to vary wildly by jurisdiction.

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accomplice

A person who knowingly and voluntarily assists another in committing a crime, making them legally liable for the offense. Being an accomplice means you're not just morally complicit—you're criminally responsible, even if you never actually did the deed yourself. The law doesn't distinguish much between the getaway driver and the bank robber.

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res judicata

The principle that once a court has decided an issue, you can't keep relitigating it like a broken record. It's the legal system's way of telling parties 'we already settled this, move on with your life.'

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