joghatással

Joghatással is a term used in Hungarian law to describe the status of a norm, decision, or act that creates, changes, or extinguishes legal rights and obligations and is enforceable under the law. It is used to denote that the effects of a rule or action have legal validity and can be invoked before courts or authorities.

Etymology and scope: The word combines jog (law) and hatás (effect). In legal texts, joghatás can refer to the consequences that follow from a normative act, a court decision, or an administrative measure. It often appears in phrases indicating when something becomes legally operative, such as a rule or decision taking effect from a specified date or upon fulfillment of conditions. The concept is distinct from broader notions of legitimacy or validity, focusing specifically on the enforceable legal consequences.

Usage in practice: The term is commonly found in statutory language, contract drafting, and administrative decisions. For example, a contract may specify that it “joghatással lép hatályba” on a given date, meaning it becomes legally binding from that moment. A governmental decree could be described as having “joghatással” for those subjects affected by it. Lawyers use the phrase to convey that a rule or act has practical legal consequences, as opposed to merely descriptive or informational content.