laglighet

Laglighet is the quality or state of being in accordance with law. In legal and public administration contexts it denotes that actions, rules, and decisions are authorized by applicable statutes, constitutions, and formal procedures. It is a central aspect of the rule of law and a standard against which legality is assessed.

Laglighet comprises substantive legality and procedural legality. Substantive legality ensures that the law itself is applicable and not contrary to higher norms; procedural legality requires proper authority, formal authorization, publication, and fair process. Public powers may only be exercised within the limits set by law, and administrative decisions must be reasoned and grounded in legal references.

Institutions to enforce laglighet include courts and tribunals conducting judicial review, ombudsmen, and statutory checks. Agencies often need a clear statutory basis for actions; administrative procedures require due process, transparency, and non-arbitrary decision-making. Private actors also face laglighet via applicable rules in areas like contracts, employment, environment, and consumer protection.

In discourse, laglighet is closely related to the rule of law. It is distinct from moral judgments of wrongdoing and from illegitimacy of authority; it emphasizes lawful authority, predictable governance, and accountability. The term derives from lag (law) and -lighet (quality), and is commonly used in Swedish-language legal writing alongside comparable terms in surrounding legal traditions.