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Privilege
A '''privilege'''—etymologically "private law" or law relating to a specific individual—is a special entitlement or immunity (legal)|immunity granted by a government or other authority to a restricted group, either by birth or on a conditional basis. A privilege can be revoked in some cases. In modern democracies, 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 birth. Miscellaneous privileges, e.g. the old common law privilege to title deeds, may still exist, though of little relevance today.[Suzanna McNichol, ''The Law of Privilege'' (1st ed, 1992)]
In a broader sense, 'privilege' can refer to special powers or 'de facto' immunities held as a consequence of political power or wealth. Privilege of this sort may be transmitted by birth into a privileged class or achieved through individual actions. Compare elite.
One of the objectives of the French Revolution was the abolition of privilege. This meant the removal of separate laws for different social classes (nobility, clergy and ordinary people), instead subjecting everyone to the same common law. Privileges were abolished by the National Constituent Assembly on August 4, 1789.
See also
- Privilege (canon law)|Privilege in canon law
- Executive privilege
- White privilege
- Male privilege
- Heterosexual privilege
- Privileged communication
Category:Legal ethics
Category:Legal history
Notes
simple:Privilege
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