Standing

The constitutional requirement that a plaintiff have a sufficient personal stake in the controversy to invoke federal court jurisdiction.

Plain-English definition

Standing is the constitutional requirement (rooted in Article III's case-or-controversy clause) that a plaintiff have a real, personal stake in the dispute. Three elements: (1) injury in fact, (2) causation traceable to the defendant, (3) redressability by a favorable ruling. Lack of standing is jurisdictional and can be raised at any time.

Notable cases

Lujan v. Defenders of Wildlife (U.S. Sup. Ct., 1992)
Articulated the modern three-part standing test.
TransUnion LLC v. Ramirez (U.S. Sup. Ct., 2021)
Concrete-injury requirement applied to statutory damages cases.

More in Constitutional Law

Due Process

A constitutional guarantee that government must use fair procedures and respect certain protected rights before depriving life, liberty, or property.

Equal Protection

The constitutional principle that government must treat similarly situated people alike unless it has a sufficient justification.

Fourth Amendment

The constitutional protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.

Qualified Immunity

A defense shielding government officials from damages unless they violated clearly established federal law.

Section 1983

The federal statute allowing lawsuits against state or local actors for constitutional and federal-rights violations.

State Action

The requirement that many constitutional claims involve government action rather than purely private conduct.

Not legal advice. Definitions are for general reference. Consult an attorney before relying on any term in a real case.