Legal status

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In law legal status refers to the concept of individuals having a particular place in society, relative to the law, as it determines the laws which affect them. Degrees of status, as well as the rights and statutes which apply, vary in accordance with several standard (as well as specialized designations).

Various terms are used by different jurisdictions to refer to people and their status under the law. These may include terms such as:

• slave^[1]
• citizen or elector
• minor, ie a legal child
• enlisted soldier, serviceman or conscript
• convicted felon
• enemy combatant or prisoner of war

Most such terms have technical (legal) meanings in their respective jurisdictions or under international law. However, some such terms are politically controversial and their use may induce strong emotions, eg:

• illegal immigrant, refugee or exile
• political prisoner

References

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