Legal dictionary · Area 10 of 17
Constitutional & Administrative Law — EN · ES · IT.
38 terms from Constitutional & Administrative Law, each with its Spanish and Italian equivalent and a plain-language definition. Open any term for its own page.
Public-law vocabulary is shaped by each country's institutions. Spanish and Italian administrative law is a full branch of its own, with a separate contentious-administrative jurisdiction (jurisdicción contencioso-administrativa, giustizia amministrativa before the TAR and the Consiglio di Stato) and instruments — recurso de amparo, ricorso straordinario, silencio administrativo — that U.S. practice does not know. Certified translations of administrative decisions, permits and appeals keep the names of the authorities and remedies in the original, followed by a functional English description.
Constitution
ENConstitution — The fundamental law establishing a state's structure.
ESConstitución
ITCostituzione
Constitutional right
ENConstitutional right — A right guaranteed by the constitution.
ESDerecho constitucional
ITDiritto costituzionale
Fundamental rights
ENFundamental rights — Basic rights inherent to all persons.
ESDerechos fundamentales
ITDiritti fondamentali
Human rights
ENHuman rights — Universal rights and freedoms of all human beings.
ESDerechos humanos
ITDiritti umani
Rule of law
ENRule of law — The principle that all are subject to the law.
ESEstado de derecho
ITStato di diritto
Separation of powers
ENSeparation of powers — The division of government into distinct branches.
ESDivisión de poderes
ITSeparazione dei poteri
Equality before the law
ENEquality before the law — The principle that all are treated equally by law.
ESIgualdad ante la ley
ITUguaglianza davanti alla legge
Sovereignty
ENSovereignty — Supreme authority of a state over its territory.
ESSoberanía
ITSovranità
Citizenship
ENCitizenship — Legal membership in a state with attendant rights.
ESCiudadanía / Nacionalidad
ITCittadinanza
Suffrage / Right to vote
ENSuffrage / Right to vote — The right to vote in elections.
ESSufragio / Derecho al voto
ITDiritto di voto
Referendum
ENReferendum — A direct popular vote on a specific question.
ESReferéndum / Consulta popular
ITReferendum
Legislation / Statute
ENLegislation / Statute — A written law enacted by a legislature.
ESLey
ITLegge
Regulation
ENRegulation — A rule implementing a statute.
ESReglamento / Decreto reglamentario
ITRegolamento
Bill (draft law)
ENBill (draft law) — A proposed law under consideration.
ESProyecto de ley
ITDisegno di legge
Judicial review / Constitutionality
ENJudicial review / Constitutionality — Court review of laws for compliance with the constitution.
ESControl de constitucionalidad
ITSindacato di costituzionalità
Unconstitutionality
ENUnconstitutionality — The state of a law conflicting with the constitution.
ESInconstitucionalidad
ITIncostituzionalità
Habeas corpus
ENHabeas corpus — A remedy against unlawful detention.
ESHabeas corpus
ITHabeas corpus
Amparo / Constitutional protection
ENAmparo / Constitutional protection — A remedy protecting constitutional rights.
ESAmparo
ITRicorso di tutela / Amparo
Public administration
ENPublic administration — The bodies that carry out government functions.
ESAdministración pública
ITPubblica amministrazione
Administrative act
ENAdministrative act — A decision or action by a public authority.
ESActo administrativo
ITAtto amministrativo
Administrative procedure
ENAdministrative procedure — The rules governing decisions by public authorities.
ESProcedimiento administrativo
ITProcedimento amministrativo
Public official
ENPublic official — A person holding a public office or function.
ESFuncionario público
ITPubblico ufficiale / Funzionario pubblico
Administrative appeal
ENAdministrative appeal — A challenge to an administrative decision within the agency.
ESRecurso administrativo
ITRicorso amministrativo
Public procurement
ENPublic procurement — Government purchasing of goods and services.
ESContratación pública / Licitación
ITAppalto pubblico
License / Permit
ENLicense / Permit — Official permission to do a regulated activity.
ESLicencia / Permiso / Habilitación
ITLicenza / Autorizzazione
Concession
ENConcession — A grant of rights to operate a public service or resource.
ESConcesión
ITConcessione
Sanction / Administrative penalty
ENSanction / Administrative penalty — A penalty imposed by an administrative authority.
ESSanción administrativa
ITSanzione amministrativa
Public interest
ENPublic interest — The general welfare considered in legal decisions.
ESInterés público
ITInteresse pubblico
Legislature / Parliament
ENLegislature / Parliament — The body that makes laws.
ESPoder Legislativo / Congreso
ITParlamento / Potere legislativo
Executive (branch)
ENExecutive (branch) — The branch that enforces and administers law.
ESPoder Ejecutivo
ITPotere esecutivo
Judiciary
ENJudiciary — The branch that interprets and applies law.
ESPoder Judicial
ITPotere giudiziario / Magistratura
Freedom of expression
ENFreedom of expression — The right to express opinions without censorship.
ESLibertad de expresión
ITLibertà di espressione
Decree of necessity
ENDecree of necessity — An emergency executive decree with force of law.
ESDecreto de necesidad y urgencia (DNU)
ITDecreto-legge
Federalism
ENFederalism — The division of power between central and regional governments.
ESFederalismo
ITFederalismo
Public hearing
ENPublic hearing — An open proceeding allowing public participation.
ESAudiencia pública
ITUdienza pubblica / Consultazione
Eminent domain (takings)
ENEminent domain (takings) — Government taking of property for public use with compensation.
ESExpropiación por utilidad pública
ITEsproprio per pubblica utilità
Other areas of the dictionary
- General & Procedural Law
- Court Personnel & Legal Professionals
- Civil Law & Obligations
- Contract Law
- Criminal Law & Procedure
- Tort / Civil Liability
- Property & Real Estate Law
- Family & Succession Law
- Commercial, Corporate & Company Law
- Labor / Employment Law
- Tax & Financial Law
- Intellectual Property Law
- Notarial, Apostille & Certification
- Latin Legal Terms & Maxims
- Immigration & Citizenship
- Banking, Insurance & Finance
- All areas — dictionary index
This page is for general orientation only. It is not legal advice and does not substitute for advice from licensed counsel in the relevant jurisdiction. Terminology varies between countries and between civil-law and common-law systems; the equivalents shown here are the most common in cross-border practice.
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