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Jurisdiction

Definition​

Jurisdiction refers to the extent a political entity can legitimately enforce a law.

Discussion​

The term derives from latin juridictio. The prefix is taken from juris, meaning "of law" and the suffix dictio means "to say".

As such, the traditional meaning of jurisdiction is "to say what the law is".

In practical terms, jurisdiction means who says what the law is.

The legitimacy of a law concerns not only its substance but also whether the people enforcing the law have authority to do so.

Jurisdiction is crucial as it helps form the marketplace of competing laws — enabling us to distinguish between various governance models and identify which elements are most conducive to freedom and prosperity.

Further Resources​

  • Gebel, Titus, Free and Private Cities: Making Governments Compete For You (3rd ed, Free Cities Foundation, 2023).