hatáskörön

Hatáskörön is the locative form of the Hungarian noun hatáskör, which denotes jurisdiction or sphere of authority. It appears in legal and administrative language to express the domain within which a person or body has competence. The base term hatáskör refers to the power to decide or act on a given matter; hatáskörön specifies the location of that power, as in hatáskörön belül (within the scope) or hatáskörön kívül (outside the scope).

The concept is central in constitutional and administrative law: each organ or official has a defined hatáskör by law, and acts exceeding it may be invalid or subject to challenge. Hatáskör can be allocated or restricted by statutes, regulations, or through delegation of authority (hatáskör-átadás, meghatalmazás). In practice, delineation of hatáskör prevents jurisdictional conflicts and supports judicial review.

The term is used across government levels—from national to local—and in European Union contexts, where some competences are retained by member states and others are exercised by EU institutions. Clarifying hatáskörök and their boundaries is essential for the orderly operation of public administration and for ensuring accountability of decision-makers.