In law and government, de jure (; ; ) describes practices that are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms, regardless of whether the practice exists in reality. The phrase is often used in contrast with de facto ('from fact'), which describes situations that exist in reality, even if not formally recognized.
Definition
De jure is a
Latin expression composed of the words
de,("from, of") and
jure,("law", adjectival form of
). Thus, it is descriptive of a structural argument or position derived "from law".
Usage
Jurisprudence and de jure law
In U.S. law, particularly after
Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the difference between
de facto segregation (that existed because of voluntary associations and neighborhoods) and
de jure segregation (that existed because of local laws) became important distinctions for court-mandated remedial purposes.
Government and culture
Between 1805 and 1914, the Muhammad Ali dynasty of Egypt were
de jure subject to the rulers of the
Ottoman Empire, meaning they were formally considered to be under the rule of the Ottomans. However, in practice, they acted as
de facto rulers, as they were able to maintain a large degree of independence in their governance of Egypt.
Borders
The
de jure borders of a country are defined by the area its government claims, but not necessarily controls. Modern examples include
Taiwan (claimed but not controlled by
China)
and
Kashmir (claimed by
Kashmir conflict).
See also
