cession

Cession is the act of yielding or transferring rights, property, or sovereignty from one party to another, typically through a formal agreement, contract, or treaty. The term derives from the Latin cessio, meaning yielding or going away.

In civil law, cession refers to the transfer or assignment of rights or claims from one person or entity to another, such as the cession of receivables or other contractual rights. In international law, territorial cession denotes the transfer of sovereignty over territory from one state to another, usually by treaty or other formal agreement. The cession may occur with or without compensation and often involves borders, governance arrangements, and transitional measures.

Examples in history illustrate territorial cession. The 1763 Treaty of Paris ended the Seven Years’ War and led France to cede Canada and other territories to Britain. The 1848 Mexican Cession involved Mexico ceding a large portion of its northern lands to the United States following the Mexican-American War.

Beyond territory, cession can apply to the transfer of rights or interests in assets, contracts, or claims. In financial contexts, it may describe the assignment of debts or contract rights from one party to another. In bankruptcy or restructuring, a cession of assets can occur when a debtor’s property is transferred to a trustee or creditors.

Cession is distinct from sale in that it emphasizes the transfer of rights or sovereignty rather than a market exchange, and it can occur with or without monetary consideration, depending on the legal and political context.