Legal Definitions - legem habere

Definition: Legem habere is a Latin term that means to be able to testify under oath. In England, witnesses with criminal convictions were not allowed to testify until the 19th century.

• A witness with a criminal record was not able to give evidence in court until the Evidence Act of 1843 was passed.

This example illustrates how the definition of legem habere was applied in England's legal system. Witnesses who had been convicted of a crime were not considered trustworthy enough to give evidence in court until the law was changed.

Definition: Legem jubere is a Latin term that means to pass a proposed law.

• The parliament voted to legem jubere the new tax law.

This example illustrates how the definition of legem jubere was applied in the Roman legal system. The parliament passed a new tax law by voting in favor of it.

Definition: Legem ponere is a Latin term that means to propound a law or to pay in cash.

• The government decided to legem ponere a new regulation to protect the environment.
• The customer legem ponere the full amount in cash to purchase the car.

These examples illustrate how the definition of legem ponere can have different meanings depending on the context. In the first example, it refers to the government proposing a new regulation. In the second example, it means paying the full amount in cash to buy a car.

Definition: Legem sciscere is a Latin term that means (of the people) to consent to a proposed law.

• The citizens were asked to legem sciscere the new law that would increase taxes.

This example illustrates how the definition of legem sciscere was applied in the Roman legal system. The citizens were asked to give their consent to a proposed law that would increase taxes.