Majority

the majority is the age, starting from which one applies as grown-up.

Germany

in Germany one attains the majority with the completion 18. Lebensjahres. This is in § 2 of the BGB regulated.

Thus one becomes fully competent and receives the passive right to vote. One , independently of the definition of the majority, attains the active right to vote with the completion 18. Lebensjahres (kind. 38 (2) GG). Criminally one becomes between that 18. and that 21.Birthday as growing up outstandingly, to which the youth criminal law or the general criminal law can be applied. In addition the person of age without permission of the concern-entitled or the family court may marry.

The majority (also majority or full age) became in Germany by the realm law of 17. February 1875 up21 years fixed. Since that 1. January 1900 regulated this the civil law book (BGB), § 2, same contents. Further it specified § 3 that by the person condition court persons, who had completed the eight tenth Lebensjahr, who majority could be awarded; Right ones and obligations resulted accordinglyalready in former times. 1875 ago it occurred many areas of Germany only with 25 years.

At the 1. January 1975 was lowered the age of the majority in the Federal Republic of Germany from before 21 years to 18 years.

Austria

in Austria became the agethe majority in June 1971 of 21 to 19 and at the 1. July 2001 of 19 to 18 years reduction.

Switzerland

in Switzerland is appropriate the age of the majority since that for 1. January 1996 in accordance with kind. 14 ZGB at 18 years; beforeit was about 20 years.

other countries

in most states of the European union with 18 years the majority is reached.

In accordance with New Yorker conventions over the rights of the child of 20. November 1989 begins the majority likewise with 18 years,if the right which can be applied to the child occurs not already in former times - Nepal for example with 15, Japan with 20 years [1]. The USA and Somalia did not sign this convention; in the USA one attains the majority with 18 years, in Somaliawith 15 years.

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