Legal Definitions - JAC.

JAC. is an abbreviation for Jacobus, which is the Latin form of the name James. In legal contexts, this abbreviation is primarily used when citing statutes (laws) that were enacted during the reigns of English kings named James.

Historically, there were two significant English monarchs named James who reigned before the Act of Union 1707 (which created Great Britain): James I (reigned 1603-1625) and James II (reigned 1685-1688). When you see "Jac." in a legal citation, it helps to pinpoint the exact historical period and the monarch under whom a particular law was passed, distinguishing it from statutes passed under other monarchs.

Here are some examples illustrating how "JAC." is used:

• Example 1: Historical Property Law

  A legal historian researching the evolution of land ownership laws in England might encounter a reference like: "The Act for the Better Assurance of Lands, 3 Jac. I, c. 4."

  This citation indicates that the law in question was passed in the third year of King James I's reign. The "Jac. I" clarifies which King James is being referred to, providing crucial historical context for understanding property rights during that specific period.

• Example 2: Constitutional Law and Royal Prerogative

  When a constitutional law scholar discusses the historical limits on royal power, they might refer to a legislative attempt to curb the monarch's authority, citing it as: "An Act to Regulate the Granting of Pardons, 1 Jac. II, c. 2."

  Here, "1 Jac. II" specifies that this statute was enacted in the first year of King James II's reign. This helps the scholar identify a particular legislative effort to define or restrict the monarch's powers during a period of significant constitutional tension.

• Example 3: Modern Legal Commentary

  A contemporary legal textbook on intellectual property law, tracing the origins of patent law, might state: "The seminal Statute of Monopolies, 21 Jac. I, c. 3 (1624), laid the groundwork for modern patent systems by limiting the Crown's power to grant exclusive trading rights."

  In this context, "21 Jac. I" precisely identifies the statute as having been enacted in the 21st year of King James I's reign. This allows the reader to understand the historical origin of a fundamental principle in intellectual property law, connecting it directly to a specific monarch's era.