De facto

Quick Facts: Who was De facto?

Subject:

De facto

Known for:

Latin expressions contrasting actual existence ('de facto') with legal status ('de jure').

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2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

De facto and de jure are contrasting concepts, with de facto being used to refer to the actual existence of a state of affairs, and de jure being used to refer to the legal existence of something even if it is not represented in reality. These terms are particularly used in the context of law and governance. For example, the de facto ruler of a country is the individual who actually runs the government, and the de jure leader may merely be a legal office holder with little power. In jurisprudence, a de facto law (also known as a de facto regulation) is a law or regulation that is followed but "is not specifically enumerated by a law." By definition, de facto 'contrasts' de jure which means "as defined by law" or "as a matter of law." For example, if a particular law exists in one jurisdiction, but is followed in another where it has no legal effect (such as in another country), then the law could be considered a de facto regulation (a "de facto regulation" is not an officially prescribed legal classification for a type of law in a particular jurisdiction, rather, it is a concept about law(s). A de facto regulation may be followed by an organization as a result of the market size of the jurisdiction imposing the regulation as a proportion of the overall market; wherein the market share is so large that it results in the organization choosing to comply by implementing one standard of business with respect to the given de facto law instead of altering standards between different jurisdictions and markets (e.g. data protection, manufacturing, etc.).

Career & Major Achievements

In prison sentences, the term de facto life sentence (also known as a "virtual" life sentence) is used to describe a "non-life sentence" that is long enough to end after the convicted person would have likely died due to old age, or one long enough to cause the convicted person to "live out the vast majority of their life in jail prior to their release." In U.S. law, particularly after Brown v. Board of Education (1954), the difference between de facto segregation (that existed because of voluntary associations and neighborhoods) and de jure segregation (that existed because of local laws) became important distinctions for court-mandated remedial purposes. Some countries have a de facto national language in addition to an official language. In Morocco, Arabic and Tamazight are official languages; in addition, French is a de facto national language. In Lebanon, Arabic is the official language; English and French are de facto national languages. Russian was the de facto language of the central government and, to a large extent, republican governments of the former Soviet Union, but was not declared de jure official language until a short-lived law, effected April 24, 1990, made Russian the sole de jure official language of the Union prior to its dissolution in 1991.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

In Hong Kong and Macau, the special administrative regions of China, the official languages are English and Portuguese respectively, together with Chinese. No particular variety of Chinese is specified in law. Cantonese (Hong Kong Cantonese) in traditional Chinese characters is the standard speaking and writing system in both territories, making it the de facto language. A de facto government is a government wherein all the attributes of sovereignty have, by usurpation, been transferred from those who had been legally invested with them to others, who, sustained by a power above the forms of law, claim to act and do really act in their stead. Between 1805 and 1914, the Muhammad Ali dynasty of Egypt were de jure subject to the rulers of the Ottoman Empire, meaning they were formally considered to be under the rule of the Ottomans.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1805: 1805 Milestone — Between 1805 and 1914, the Muhammad Ali dynasty of Egypt were de jure subject to the rulers of the Ottoman Empire, meaning they were formally considered to be under the rule of the Ottomans.
2. 1954: 1954 Milestone — Board of Education (1954), the difference between de facto segregation (that existed because of voluntary associations and neighborhoods) and de jure segregation (that existed because of local laws) became important distinctions for court-mandated remedial purposes.
3. 1990: 1990 Milestone — Russian was the de facto language of the central government and, to a large extent, republican governments of the former Soviet Union, but was not declared de jure official language until a short-lived law, effected April 24, 1990, made Russian the sole de jure official language of the Union prior to its dissolution in 1991.

Notable Quotes by De facto

“The de facto ruler of a country is the individual who actually runs the government, and the de jure leader may merely be a legal office holder with little power.”

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: De facto

True or False: “In all instances, if a law is followed in one jurisdiction but not legally established there, it must always be classified as a 'de facto regulation'.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): The text clarifies that 'de facto regulation' is not an officially prescribed legal classification for a type of law in any particular jurisdiction.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Aarathi — Historical peer (Born in 1954) (1954): Veteran Indian actress celebrated for her roles in Kannada cinema during the 1970s and 1980s.
• Abdel Fattah el-Sisi — Historical peer (Born in 1954) (1954): Egyptian military leader who became the sixth President of Egypt in 2014.
• A. J. P. Taylor — Historical peer (Died in 1990) (1990): Influential English historian specializing in 19th and 20th-century European diplomacy.
• Aaron Copland — Historical peer (Died in 1990) (1990): Pioneering American composer, conductor, and critic, known as the "Dean of American Music".
• Abby Stein — Historical peer (Born in 1991) (1991): Israeli-American author, rabbi, and activist who speaks on faith and gender identity.
• Abhay Jodhpurkar — Historical peer (Born in 1991) (1991): Indian singer known for songs in multiple South Indian languages and Bollywood hits.
• Alexis de Tocqueville — Historical peer (Born in 1805) (1805): French philosopher known for analyzing Western democracy and social trends.
• August Bournonville — Historical peer (Born in 1805) (1805): Pioneering Danish ballet master and choreographer, founder of the Bournonville School.
• Abdul-Karim Qasim — Historical peer (Born in 1914) (1914): Iraqi military officer who led the country as Prime Minister from 1958 to 1963.
• Adolph Green — Historical peer (Born in 1914) (1914): American lyricist and playwright known for his long-running, witty partnership with Betty Comden.

Frequently Asked Questions about De facto