Age of majority
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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The age of majority is the threshold of adulthood as it is conceptualized in law. It is the chronological moment when children legally assume majority control over their persons and their actions and decisions, thereby terminating the legal control and legal responsibilities of their parents over and for them.
In practical terms, there are certain specific actions which a person who attains the age of majority is permitted to take, which they could not do before. These may include entering into a binding contract, voting, buying and/or consuming alcoholic beverages, driving motor vehicles on public roads, and marrying without obtaining consent of others. The ages at which these various rights or powers may be exercised vary as between the various rights and as between different jurisdictions. For example, the ages at which a person may obtain a license to drive a car or consume alcoholic beverages vary considerably between and also within jurisdictions.
See also
- Adolescence
- Age of candidacy
- Age of consent
- Age of criminal responsibility
- Emancipation of minors
- Legal drinking age
- Legal smoking age
- Marriageable age
- Mature minor doctrine
- Secular coming-of-age ceremony
- Voting age
- Youth rights
- Youth suffrage
- Youth