Which term describes acting in official authority to deprive rights?

• A. Color of law
• B. Common law
• C. Equity
• D. Jurisdiction

Answer: (A)

Acting in official authority to deprive rights is described by the term color of law. It covers situations where someone who is supposed to be acting with government power uses that position to take away people’s rights, even if the action isn’t truly authorized by law. The idea is that the official power is used under the guise of legality, creating an appearance of lawful authority while the rights are being violated. This concept is central in civil rights law, where officials can be held liable when they abuse their official authority to infringe rights.

Common law refers to judge-made law and precedents, not the misuse of official power. Equity focuses on fairness and equitable remedies, not on the source or legitimacy of authority. Jurisdiction is about the authority of a court or body to decide a matter, not about how official power is used to deprive rights.