Natural person
Encyclopedia
Variously, in jurisprudence
, a natural person is a human being, as opposed to an artificial, legal or juristic person, i.e., an organization that the law treats for some purposes as if it were a person
distinct from its members or owner. Sometimes the legal situation limits the term by limits on age, psychiatric, medical, nationality attributes, gender, sexual orientation, criminal record, official paperwork, and computer records (which may or may not be accurate).
For example, such legal provisions as Amendment XIX
to the United States Constitution
, which states a person can not be denied the right to vote based on gender, or Section 15
of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
, which guarantees equality rights, apply to natural persons only. In many cases fundamental human rights
are implicitly granted only to natural persons; for example a corporation cannot hold public office, but it can file a lawsuit
.
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
, a natural person is a human being, as opposed to an artificial, legal or juristic person, i.e., an organization that the law treats for some purposes as if it were a person
Person
A person is a human being, or an entity that has certain capacities or attributes strongly associated with being human , for example in a particular moral or legal context...
distinct from its members or owner. Sometimes the legal situation limits the term by limits on age, psychiatric, medical, nationality attributes, gender, sexual orientation, criminal record, official paperwork, and computer records (which may or may not be accurate).
For example, such legal provisions as Amendment XIX
Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution
The Nineteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution prohibits any United States citizen to be denied the right to vote based on sex. It was ratified on August 18, 1920....
to the United States Constitution
United States Constitution
The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It is the framework for the organization of the United States government and for the relationship of the federal government with the states, citizens, and all people within the United States.The first three...
, which states a person can not be denied the right to vote based on gender, or Section 15
Section Fifteen of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Section Fifteen of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms contains guaranteed equality rights. As part of the Constitution, the section prohibits certain forms of discrimination perpetrated by the governments of Canada with the exception of ameliorative programs and rights or privileges...
of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms
The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms is a bill of rights entrenched in the Constitution of Canada. It forms the first part of the Constitution Act, 1982...
, which guarantees equality rights, apply to natural persons only. In many cases fundamental human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
are implicitly granted only to natural persons; for example a corporation cannot hold public office, but it can file a lawsuit
Lawsuit
A lawsuit or "suit in law" is a civil action brought in a court of law in which a plaintiff, a party who claims to have incurred loss as a result of a defendant's actions, demands a legal or equitable remedy. The defendant is required to respond to the plaintiff's complaint...
.