In law and government, de jure (/deɪ ˈdʒʊəri, di -, - ˈjʊər-/; Latin: [deː ˈjuːre]; lit. 'by law') describes practices that are officially recognized by laws or other formal norms, regardless of whether the practice exists in reality. The phrase is often used in contrast with de facto ('in fact'), which describes situations that exist in reality, even if not formally recognized.[1]