A privilege is a certain entitlement to
immunity granted by the state or another authority to a restricted group, either by birth or on a conditional basis. Land-titles and
taxi medallions are examples of transferable privilege – they can be revoked in certain circumstances. In modern democratic states, a ''privilege'' is conditional and granted only after birth. By contrast, a ''
right'' is an inherent, irrevocable entitlement held by all citizens or all human beings from the moment of birth. Various Examples of old
common law
In law, common law (also known as judicial precedent, judge-made law, or case law) is the body of law created by judges and similar quasi-judicial tribunals by virtue of being stated in written opinions."The common law is not a brooding omniprese ...
privilege still exist – to title deeds, for example. Etymologically, a privilege (''privilegium'') means a "private law", or rule relating to a specific individual or institution.
The principles of conduct that members of the legal profession observe in their practice are called legal ethics.
Boniface
Boniface, OSB ( la, Bonifatius; 675 – 5 June 754) was an English Benedictines, Benedictine monk and leading figure in the Anglo-Saxon mission to the Germanic parts of the Frankish Empire during the eighth century. He organised significant ...
's
abbey of Fulda, to cite an early and prominent example, was granted ''
privilegium'', setting the abbot in direct contact with the pope, bypassing the jurisdiction of the local bishop.
One of the objectives of the
French Revolution
The French Revolution ( ) was a period of radical political and societal change in France that began with the Estates General of 1789 and ended with the formation of the French Consulate in November 1799. Many of its ideas are conside ...
was the abolition of privilege. This meant the removal of separate laws for different
social class
A social class is a grouping of people into a set of Dominance hierarchy, hierarchical social categories, the most common being the Upper class, upper, Middle class, middle and Working class, lower classes. Membership in a social class can for ...
es (
nobility,
clergy
Clergy are formal leaders within established religions. Their roles and functions vary in different religious traditions, but usually involve presiding over specific rituals and teaching their religion's doctrines and practices. Some of the t ...
, and ordinary people), instead subjecting everyone to the same common law. Such privileges were abolished by the
National Constituent Assembly on August 4, 1789.
See also
*
Executive privilege
*
Parliamentary privilege
Parliamentary privilege is a legal immunity enjoyed by members of certain legislatures, in which legislators are granted protection against civil or criminal liability for actions done or statements made in the course of their legislative duties. ...
*
Privilege (canon law)
*
Privilege (evidence)
In the law of evidence, a privilege is a rule of evidence that allows the holder of the privilege to refuse to disclose information or provide evidence about a certain subject or to bar such evidence from being disclosed or used in a judicial or ...
*
Privilège du blanc
*
Privilege of peerage
*
Privilege (social inequality)
*
Szlachta's privileges
References
{{Authority control
Legal ethics
Legal history
Public choice theory