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Simple English definitions for legal terms
enclave
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A quick definition of enclave:
An enclave is a small piece of land that belongs to one country but is completely surrounded by another country. This means that people who live in the enclave have to cross through the other country to get to the rest of their own country. Enclaves used to be more common, but now there are only a few left. There are also federal enclaves, which are pieces of land that a state has given to the United States government. The government has complete control over these areas, which include things like military bases and national parks.
A more thorough explanation:
An enclave is a term used in international law to describe an isolated part of a country's territory that is entirely surrounded by the territory of another country. This means that any communication with the main part of the country must pass through the territory of the foreign country. Enclaves are relatively rare nowadays, but some examples include:
- Baarle-Hertog: a Belgian enclave in the Netherlands
- Kaliningrad: a Russian enclave between Lithuania and Poland
Another type of enclave is a federal enclave. This refers to territory or land that a state has ceded to the United States. Examples of federal enclaves include military bases, national parks, federally administered highways, and federal Indian reservations. The U.S. government has exclusive authority and jurisdiction over federal enclaves.
Finally, there is the quasi-enclave. This is an isolated part of a country's territory that, although not entirely surrounded by the territory of a foreign country, is inaccessible by way of the country's own territory because of topographical features such as impassable mountains.
Overall, enclaves are unique geographical features that can have significant political and legal implications for the countries involved.