legitimacy
Lawful standing recognized
Legitimacy is the quality of being legitimate—lawful, valid, or accepted as proper.
A government's legitimacy rests on whether citizens recognize its authority.
A claim gains legitimacy through evidence or endorsement.
The scandal undermined the legitimacy of the election.
In older usage, legitimacy specifically meant being born to married parents, as opposed to illegitimacy.
Conformance with law
- constitutionalityAccordance with founding charter
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- jurisprudencePhilosophy governing legal systems
- codificationOrganizing rules into system
statutes · regulation · due process · adjudication · statutory · ordinance · lawful · sanctioned
Quality of being real
- realTruly existing, not fake
- bona fideAuthentic and sincere
- trueAccurate or loyal
- rightfulLegally or morally valid
proper · valid · recognized · accepted · established · undisputed · uncontested · acknowledged
Rule by the people
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- statecraftArt of government
- parliamentNational legislative assembly
legislation · judiciary · executive · accountability · transparency · oversight · republic · monarchy
Energy transfer rate
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- ruleGoverning principle or standard
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
jurisdiction · control · supremacy · command · reign · ascendancy · enforcement · regime
Following in order
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
- hereditaryPassed through generations
bloodline · primogeniture · heir · rightful heir · claimant · pretender · usurper · paternity
Quality inspiring trust
- authenticityQuality of being genuine
- proofDemonstration of truth
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- justificationReason proving rightness
verification · substantiation · corroboration · soundness · plausibility · defensibility · reliability · factual basis
legality
Conformance with law
- constitutionalityAccordance with founding charter
- complianceAdhering to requirements
- jurisprudencePhilosophy governing legal systems
codification · statutes · regulation · due process · adjudication · statutory · ordinance · lawful · sanctioned · permissibility
genuineness
Quality of being real
rightful · proper · valid · recognized · accepted · established · undisputed · uncontested · acknowledged · certified
democracy
Rule by the people
- constitutionInherent physical or structural makeup
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- statecraftArt of government
parliament · legislation · judiciary · executive · accountability · transparency · oversight · republic · monarchy · consent of governed
power
Energy transfer rate
- sovereigntySupreme independent authority
- ruleGoverning principle or standard
- dominanceSuperior influence over others
mandate · jurisdiction · control · supremacy · command · reign · ascendancy · enforcement · regime · autonomy
succession
Following in order
- inheritanceProperty received from ancestors
- lineageDescent from progenitors
- dynastySuccessive family rulers
hereditary · bloodline · primogeniture · heir · rightful heir · claimant · pretender · usurper · paternity · maternity
credibility
Quality inspiring trust
- authenticityQuality of being genuine
- proofDemonstration of truth
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
justification · verification · substantiation · corroboration · soundness · plausibility · defensibility · reliability · factual basis · reasonableness
- political sciencepolitical science, political theory, political behavior, political economy, political institutions
- royal successionthrone, succession, line of succession, order of succession, succession line
- standingstanding, status, stature, reputation, position
- Social Contractsocial contract, consent of governed, state of nature, natural rights, Hobbes
- governancegovernance, government, democracy, vote, parliament
- monarchyking, queen, prince, princess, crown
legitimacyillegality
Violation of law
illegitimacy · unlawfulness · unconstitutionality · criminality · invalidity
legitimacyillegitimacy
Lacking lawful authority
immorality · wrongfulness · wrongness · wickedness · sinfulness
legitimacyfraudulence
Intentional deception for gain
fakery · forgery · counterfeit · phoniness · spuriousness
- legitimate heirLawfully entitled inheritor
- legitimate theaterLive dramatic stage productions
- legitimate childOffspring of a marriage
- legitimacy crisisDoubt in rightful rule
- legitimate authorityAccepted right to command
- legitimate theatreLive dramatic performance venue
legitimate, illegitimate, illegitimacy, legitimating, legitimation, illegitimately, legitimatize, legitimacies