De jure
In law and government, de jure describes practices that are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms, regardless of whether the practice exists in reality. The phrase is often used in contrast with de facto, which describes situations that exist in reality, even if not formally recognized.Definition
De jure is a Latin expression composed of the words de and jure. Thus, it is descriptive of a structural argument or position derived "from law".Usage
Jurisprudence and ''de jure'' law
In U.S. law, particularly after Brown v. Board of Education, the difference between de facto segregation and de jure segregation became important distinctions for court-mandated remedial purposes.Between 1805 and 1914, the Muhammad Ali dynasty of Egypt were de jure subject to the rulers of the Ottoman Empire, meaning they were formally considered to be under the rule of the Ottomans. However, in practice, they acted as de facto rulers, as they were able to maintain a large degree of independence in their governance of Egypt.Borders
The de jure borders of a country are defined by the area its government claims, but not necessarily controls. Modern examples include Taiwan and Kashmir.