befugt

Befugt is a German adjective used in legal, administrative, and organizational language to describe someone or a body that has been granted authority or competence to perform certain actions or decisions. The authorization is typically defined by law, regulation, contract, or internal rules, and it determines the scope within which the person or institution may act.

In practice, befugt can apply to individuals (such as officials, employees, or representatives) and to organizations or public authorities. Examples include a mayor who is befugt to issue local ordinances, a public registrar who is befugt to certify documents, or a company officer who is befugt to sign contracts on behalf of the company. The term emphasizes formal authorization rather than general ability.

Befugt is distinct from related concepts such as Vollmacht, Bevollmächtigter, and Vertretungsbefugnis. Vollmacht refers to a private power of attorney granted by one person to another, enabling the latter to act on behalf of the grantor. Bevollmächtigter denotes the person who holds such authorization, whereas Vertretungsbefugnis denotes the general right to represent, which can be granted by law or contract and may be subject to limits. Additionally, befugt differs from Kompetenz in that competence can reflect capability, while befugt denotes legally granted authorization to act.

In usage, phrases like “befugt zur Durchführung …,” “befugte Stelle,” or “befugte Person” are common. The term helps delineate responsibilities and authority within public institutions, private organizations, and contractual relationships.