C2 · 40 words
Administrative law in Portuguese
Decision, discretion, objection — the road against an authority.
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From these 40 words, as many per round as you like — up to all of them: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.
More about this list
The twenty-fifth entry is a incompetência do órgão, and it is the line on this page an English reader is likeliest to take as an insult. In everyday English « incompetence » is a judgement passed on a person: the word says that somebody cannot do the job, and « an incompetent official » is an accusation with no appeal in it. None of that is present here. A incompetência do órgão says only that the body which signed had no power to sign — the file belonged to another office, another level, another ministry — and the civil servant who wrote it may have been the ablest person in the building. The same gap runs through the positive form. A competência is the set of matters an authority is allowed to decide, while « competence » in ordinary English is a person’s ability; only the language of the European institutions kept the older continental sense, in phrases such as « areas of Union competence ». So the safe renderings here are « lack of jurisdiction », « lack of power » or « acting outside its powers », and « incompetence » is best left to describe people.
The words
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Verb (1)
cassarto revokeVerbC2
A câmara cassou a licença por falta de obras.The council revoked the permit because no work had begun.
Noun (m) (15)
Grammar for these: Definite article: o, a, os, as · Contractions: do, na, ao, pelo
o ato administrativothe administrative actNoun (m)C2
O ato administrativo produz efeitos desde a notificação.An administrative act takes effect from the moment it is notified.
o poder discricionáriothe discretionary powerNoun (m)C2
O poder discricionário não é liberdade sem limites.A discretionary power is not freedom without limits.
o desvio de poderthe misuse of discretionNoun (m)C2
O desvio de poder usa a competência para outro fim.Misuse of discretion uses a power for a purpose other than its own.
o não uso do poder discricionáriothe failure to exercise discretionNoun (m)C2
O não uso do poder discricionário também vicia a decisão.Failing to exercise discretion at all also taints the decision.
o teste da proporcionalidadethe proportionality testNoun (m)C2
O teste da proporcionalidade tem três degraus.The proportionality test is made up of three steps.
o recurso hierárquicothe appeal to the superior authorityNoun (m)C2
O recurso hierárquico sobe ao superior de quem decidiu.The appeal to the superior authority goes up to the head of the official who decided.
o efeito suspensivothe suspensive effectNoun (m)C2
O efeito suspensivo trava a execução até à decisão.Suspensive effect halts enforcement until the decision is taken.
o princípio do inquisitóriothe principle of official investigationNoun (m)C2
O princípio do inquisitório obriga o serviço a procurar a prova.The principle of official investigation obliges the authority to look for the evidence itself.
o vício de formathe defect of formNoun (m)C2
O vício de forma nem sempre destrói o ato.A defect of form does not always destroy the act.
o contrato administrativothe public-law contractNoun (m)C2
O contrato administrativo segue regras próprias.A public-law contract follows rules of its own.
o regulamento municipalthe municipal by-lawNoun (m)C2
O regulamento municipal fixa os horários de ruído.The municipal by-law sets the hours during which noise is allowed.
o decreto regulamentarthe implementing decreeNoun (m)C2
O decreto regulamentar concretiza a lei.The implementing decree puts the statute into concrete form.
o alvará de licença de obrasthe building permitNoun (m)C2
O alvará de licença de obras é um ato como outro qualquer.A building permit is an act like any other.
o prazo de impugnaçãothe time limit for challenging the actNoun (m)C2
O prazo de impugnação conta-se da notificação.The time limit for challenging the act runs from the day of notification.
o ato vinculadothe non-discretionary decisionNoun (m)C2
O ato vinculado não deixa escolha ao serviço.A non-discretionary decision leaves the authority no choice.
Noun (f) (24)
Grammar for these: Definite article: o, a, os, as · Contractions: do, na, ao, pelo
a notificação da decisãothe notice of the decisionNoun (f)C2
A notificação da decisão chegou fora de prazo.The notice of the decision arrived after the deadline had passed.
a fundamentação do atothe statement of reasonsNoun (f)C2
A fundamentação do ato cabe em três linhas.The statement of reasons fits into three lines.
a tutela da confiançathe protection of legitimate expectationsNoun (f)C2
A tutela da confiança protege quem já construiu.The protection of legitimate expectations shields the person who has already built.
a anulação com efeitos retroativosthe annulment with retroactive effectNoun (f)C2
A anulação com efeitos retroativos apaga tudo desde o início.Annulment with retroactive effect wipes out everything from the start.
a cláusula acessóriathe ancillary clauseNoun (f)C2
A cláusula acessória fixou um prazo à licença.An ancillary clause set a time limit on the permit.
a condição resolutivathe resolutive conditionNoun (f)C2
A condição resolutiva faz cessar a autorização.A resolutive condition brings the authorisation to an end.
a execução imediatathe immediate enforcementNoun (f)C2
A execução imediata foi ordenada por urgência.Immediate enforcement was ordered because the matter was urgent.
a tutela cautelarthe interim reliefNoun (f)C2
A tutela cautelar evita o dano enquanto o processo corre.Interim relief prevents the damage while the case is running.
a legitimidade processualthe standing to sueNoun (f)C2
A legitimidade processual falta a quem não é afetado.Standing to sue is missing in anyone who is not affected.
a ação de impugnaçãothe action for annulmentNoun (f)C2
A ação de impugnação pede a destruição do ato.An action for annulment asks for the act to be destroyed.
a ação de condenação à prática do atothe action to compel a decisionNoun (f)C2
A ação de condenação à prática do ato obriga o serviço a decidir.An action to compel a decision forces the authority to decide.
a ação de simples apreciaçãothe declaratory actionNoun (f)C2
A ação de simples apreciação só declara o direito.A declaratory action does no more than state what the law is.
a audiência dos interessadosthe hearing of the interested partiesNoun (f)C2
A audiência dos interessados antecede a decisão final.The hearing of the interested parties comes before the final decision.
a consulta do processothe inspection of the fileNoun (f)C2
A consulta do processo mostrou um parecer escondido.Inspection of the file brought a hidden opinion to light.
a incompetência do órgãothe lack of jurisdiction of the bodyNoun (f)C2
A incompetência do órgão é o defeito mais grave.Lack of jurisdiction in the body is the gravest flaw of all.
a nulidade do ato administrativothe nullity of the administrative actNoun (f)C2
A nulidade do ato administrativo pode ser invocada a qualquer tempo.Nullity of an administrative act may be raised at any time.
a ordem de execuçãothe enforcement orderNoun (f)C2
A ordem de execução foi afixada na porta.The enforcement order had been posted on the door.
a sanção pecuniária compulsóriathe coercive penalty paymentNoun (f)C2
A sanção pecuniária compulsória corre por cada dia de atraso.The coercive penalty payment runs for every day of delay.
a execução de facto fungívelthe substitute performanceNoun (f)C2
A execução de facto fungível corre por conta do particular.Substitute performance is carried out at the citizen’s expense.
a circular administrativathe administrative circularNoun (f)C2
A circular administrativa vincula apenas os serviços.An administrative circular binds the authorities and nobody else.
a autovinculação da administraçãothe self-binding of the administrationNoun (f)C2
A autovinculação da administração nasce da prática seguida.The self-binding of the administration grows out of the practice it has followed.
a responsabilidade civil da administraçãothe liability of the administrationNoun (f)C2
A responsabilidade civil da administração cobre o erro do serviço.The liability of the administration covers mistakes made by the service.
a expropriaçãothe expropriationNoun (f)C2
A expropriação exige utilidade pública e indemnização.Expropriation requires a public purpose and compensation.
a relevação do justo impedimentothe relief from a missed time limitNoun (f)C2
A relevação do justo impedimento salvou o recurso.Relief from the missed time limit saved the appeal.
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This list belongs to Law and contracts — 32 lists and 1 264 words that can also be practised as a whole.