In
law, a
prerogative is an
exclusive right given from a
government or
state and invested in an individual or group, the content of which is separate from the body of rights enjoyed under the general
law of the normative state. It was a common facet of
feudal law. The word is derived from O.Fr.
prerogative (14c.), M.L.
prerogativa "special right," from L.
praerogativa "prerogative, previous choice or election," originally (with tribus, centuria) "unit of 100 voters who by lot voted first in the Roman comitia," from
praerogativus (adj.) "chosen to vote first."