Legal Definitions - vis

Vis (vis) is a Latin term that means "power." It can refer to:

1. Any force, violence, or disturbance relating to a person or property. In Roman law, vis was used to describe the organizing and arming of groups of people to obstruct the authorities and interrupt the administration of laws. This was considered a criminal offense and was punishable by banishment.
2. The force of law. When something has vim habere, it means that it is legally valid and enforceable.

• A group of protesters blocking a road and preventing people from passing through is an example of vis as a disturbance to property.
• A law that has been passed by the government and is being enforced by the police has vim habere, meaning it has the force of law.

These examples illustrate how vis can refer to both physical force and legal force. In the first example, the protesters are using force to disrupt the normal functioning of society. In the second example, the law has the power to compel people to follow it and punish those who don't.