Ius
Law
Ius is the Latin term for law, which may denote both the objective legal system and a subjective right.
Ius, derived from Latin, literally means 'law' and constitutes the core of much of the legal terminology within the civil law tradition. It is to be distinguished from lex, which specifically denotes a written law or statute. In Roman legal history, a distinction was drawn, inter alia, between ius civile, applicable to Roman citizens, and ius gentium, pertaining to the law of nations.
The concept remains relevant in modern legal systems influenced by Roman law, as it embodies the fundamental notion of legal rules and justice. In practice, it is encountered primarily in international, European and academic contexts to denote universal or inherent legal principles.
Lawyers and judges continue to employ it occasionally to refer to general principles of law not expressly set out in legislation.
“The judge based his ruling in part on the ius naturale which the parties had acknowledged in their agreement.”
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