Legal status 5596457 212808400 2008-05-16T10:42:39Z SmackBot 433328 Date the maintenance tags and general fixes {{Merge|Status (law)|date=May 2008}} {{legal status}} In [[law]] '''legal status''' refers to the concept of individuals having a particular place in society, relative to the law, as it determines the laws which affect them. Degrees of status, as well as the [[rights]] and [[statutes]] which apply, vary in accordance with several standard (as well as specialized designations). Various terms are used by different [[jurisdiction]]s to refer to people and their status under the law. These may include terms such as: * [[slave]]<ref>[http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/30/opinion/30foner.html Foner, Eric. "Forgotten step towards freedom,"] ''New York Times.'' December 30, 2007.</ref> * [[citizen]] or [[elector]] * [[minor (law)|minor]], ''ie'' a legal child * enlisted [[soldier]], [[serviceman]] or [[conscript]] * [[felony|convicted felon]] * [[enemy combatant]] or [[prisoner of war]] Most such terms have technical (legal) meanings in their respective jurisdictions or under [[international law]]. However, some such terms are politically controversial and their use may induce strong emotions, ''eg'': * [[illegal immigrant]], [[refugee]] or [[exile]] * [[political prisoner]] ==References== {{reflist}} [[Category:Legal categories of people]] {{law-stub}}