jus

/jas/ In Roman law, right; justice; law; the whole body of law; also a right. The term is used in two meanings:

1. "Jus" means "law," considered in the abstract; that is, as distinguished from any specific enactment, the science or department of learning, or quasi personified factor in human history or conduct or social development, which we call, in a general sense, "the law." Or it means the law taken as a system, an aggregate, a whole; "the sum total of a number of individual laws taken together." Or it may designate some one particular system or body of particular laws; as in the phrases "jus civile," "jus gentium," "jus prcetorium."

2. In a second sense, "jus"signifies "a right;" that is, a power, privilege, faculty, or demand inherent in one person and incident upon another; or a capacity residing in one person of controlling, with the assent and assistance of the state, the actions of another. This is its meaning in the expressions "jus in rent," "jus accrescendi," "jus possessionis."

It is thus seen to possess the same ambiguity as the words "droit," "recht,"and "right" (q.v.). Within the meaning of the maxim that "ignorantia juris non excusat" (ignorance of the law is no excuse), the word "jus" is used to denote the general law or ordinary law of the land, and not a private right. Some further meanings of the word are: An action, or, rather, those proceedings in the Roman action which were conducted before the praetor. Power or authority.

- sui juris, in one's own power; independent

- alieni juris, under another's power. The profession (ars) or practice of the law.

jus ponitur pro ipsa carte. A court or judicial tribunal (locus in quo redditur jus)