Body politic
Body politic: A people organized as a political community under a government, or the government entity itself as an artificial person. The Supreme Court said in Cotton v. United States, 52 U.S. 229, 231 (1851), that "Every sovereign State is of necessity a body politic, or artificial person, and as such capable of making contracts and holding property." Counties and cities are often described as bodies politic and corporate.
What body politic means
In short, body politic is a term you will meet in court papers, rules and legal research. The definition above gives its usual meaning in American civil practice. However, the exact meaning can depend on the rule, statute or court decision that uses it. So it helps to read the term in context.
Where body politic comes up
The term is used across many kinds of cases. For example, you may see it in pleadings, motions and court orders. To see it in context, browse the motions and procedures library or the Learn the Law topics.
Read the source: State as a corporation.
How to research the term
Start with the primary source. For example, if body politic appears in a federal rule, read the rule itself and its official notes. After that, check your court’s local rules and any standing orders from the judge. In addition, search recent decisions from your own state or federal district. They show how courts read body politic in practice. Because state rules often differ, our state procedures guide links to each state’s official rules. Above all, make sure the version you read is still in force.
You can read the current federal court rules online for free.
Related legal terms
- Bill of Rights: the first ten amendments to the U.S.
- Bill of sale: a document showing that ownership of property was transferred from a seller to a buyer. In debt sales, a bill of sale often refers to a separate purchase or forward flow agreement and to a schedule listing the accounts sold.
- Binding: having legal force that must be followed.
- Binding authority: law a court must follow, such as a statute or a decision of a higher court in the same jurisdiction.
Why precise terms matter
Legal words often look like everyday words, but they can carry a precise meaning. Because of that, a small misreading can change how you understand a deadline, a duty or a right. Our glossary keeps each definition short and links it to the procedures where it matters.
Sources
Sources last reviewed: 2026-10-24
Lawtopolis provides legal information and education, not legal advice. Using this site does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws and court rules vary by jurisdiction and change over time; verify every authority against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction about your situation.