Within the legal power or authority of a person, corporation, or government entity. An action taken intra vires is valid because it falls within the scope of lawful authority granted by constitution, statute, or charter.
From Latin 'intra' (within) and 'vires' (powers or strength). This concept developed in corporate and constitutional law to distinguish between valid exercises of authority and those that exceed legal boundaries. The term emphasizes the importance of staying within granted powers.
Intra vires is the legal equivalent of staying in your lane—it means you're exercising only the power you've been given. This concept became crucial during the rise of corporations and federal agencies, ensuring that entities couldn't exceed their chartered purposes or statutory mandates. The distinction between intra and ultra vires actions protects against both corporate abuse and governmental overreach by requiring clear legal authority for official action.
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