Prerogative

In law, a prerogative is an exclusive right bestowed by a government or state and invested in an individual or group, the content of which is separate from the body of rights enjoyed under the general law. It was a common facet of feudal law. The word is derived from O.Fr. prerogative (14c.), M.L. prerogativa 'special right', from L. praerogativa 'prerogative, previous choice or election', originally (with tribus, centuria) 'unit of 100 voters who by lot voted first in the Roman comitia,' from praerogativus (adj.) 'chosen to vote first.' In law, a prerogative is an exclusive right bestowed by a government or state and invested in an individual or group, the content of which is separate from the body of rights enjoyed under the general law. It was a common facet of feudal law. The word is derived from O.Fr. prerogative (14c.), M.L. prerogativa 'special right', from L. praerogativa 'prerogative, previous choice or election', originally (with tribus, centuria) 'unit of 100 voters who by lot voted first in the Roman comitia,' from praerogativus (adj.) 'chosen to vote first.'