De facto

High school (ages 12+)
People & Society

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/de-facto

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. Who wrote De facto?Effective control, widespread adoption, practical functionality, social acceptance, or market forces
2. What is the etymological origin?Latin, meaning 'from the fact' or 'in fact'
3. What is the domains of application?Governance, law, international relations, technology standards, social norms, economics
4. What does "de facto" mean?It means something is true because people do it, even if there is no written rule. It’s like a rule that everyone follows without a law.
5. Why do some governments become de facto?They control a place and people by keeping order and giving services, even if no official law says they are the government. They get power by what people see happening.

De facto: Describes a condition or situation that exists in reality and functions as if it were official, regardless of legal status.
De jure: Describes a condition or situation that is legally recognized, established by law, or officially sanctioned.
Legitimacy: The quality of being accepted as right and proper, often based on law, tradition, or popular consent.