Commissioner — in plain language
a government official or court-appointed person who has the authority to oversee a specific department, enforce regulations, or perform judicial duties
From a fixed, curated glossary of 7,257 legal terms. Not legal advice. How it's made: plainlanguage.us/trust
Plain language
a government official or court-appointed person who has the authority to oversee a specific department, enforce regulations, or perform judicial duties
- government official
- department head
- court-appointed officer
- regulator
What to watch for
- Non-lawyers often confuse a 'court commissioner' with a 'judge.' While they perform similar duties, they are appointed differently and may have limited authority compared to a full judge.
- The term is used across many different agencies (e.g., Insurance, Patents, Revenue). Translators should not assume the role is the same in every context; always check which specific department the commissioner leads.
- In some contexts, 'commissioner' refers to a high-level political appointee, while in others, it refers to a low-level administrative staffer. The translation should reflect the level of authority implied by the specific document.
Distinguishing Roles. The term "commissioner" is highly context-dependent. In a court document, it usually refers to a quasi-judicial officer. In a contract or regulatory filing, it almost always refers to the head of a government agency. Always look at the department or agency name attached to the title to understand the commissioner's actual power.
Common Misunderstandings by Non-Lawyers.
- "A commissioner is always a judge." (No — while they may have judicial powers, they are often administrative officials who do not hold the same status as an elected or appointed judge.)
- "All commissioners have the same level of power." (No — the power of a commissioner is strictly limited by the law or agency rules that created their position.)
- "A commissioner is just a clerk." (No — they typically have the authority to make binding decisions or grant official permissions.)
Legal definition
A person who holds a position of authority within a government agency or a court system. Depending on the context, a commissioner may be the head of a department (like the Commissioner of Internal Revenue) or a person appointed by a court to handle specific legal matters (like a court commissioner).
Meanings by context
everyday English: A person given the power to do a specific job or represent a group.
Court Commissioner: A lawyer appointed by a court to act like a judge for specific tasks or cases.
Administrative Commissioner: The person in charge of a specific government office or regulatory agency.
Examples
Legal: The Commissioner of Patents and Trademarks is requested to record this notice in the official register.
Plain: The government official in charge of patents and trademarks is asked to record this notice in the official records.
Legal: Except with the consent of the Commissioner, the company may not transfer these assets.
Plain: Unless the government official in charge gives their permission, the company cannot transfer these assets.
Legal: The Insurance Commissioner of the State of Georgia must approve all policy changes.
Plain: The state official in charge of insurance in Georgia must approve all changes to the policy.
Where you'll see it
- government agency filings
- patent and trademark applications
- court orders
- regulatory compliance documents
- corporate registration
Related terms
- agency
- administrative law judge
- regulator
- executive officer
- authority
Word details
- Pronunciation
- kuh-MISH-uh-ner
- Part of speech
- noun
- Origin
- Latin — from 'committere' — to entrust, to join
- Domains
- administrative law, patent law, corporate law, criminal law
- Frequency
- very common
- Formality
- high
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