color of law 法律权力之表象；表面合法的权力 指无其实的法律权力之外观。该词常指因违法者披有国家权力之外衣而使权力滥用成为可能。一国家官员的行为，不论该行为是否在其职权范围内，只要此官员声称其正在履行公务即为依表面合法权力而为的行为〔act under color of law〕。在美国，依《1871年民权法》〔Civil Rights Act of 1871〕的规定，color of law与州行为〔state action〕同义，指官员与某一州有密切关联以致其所作出的行为被视为如同该州的行为。
color of law. The appearance or semblance, without the substance, of a legal right. • The term usu. implies a misuse of power made possible because the wrongdoer is clothed with the authority of the state. State action is synonymous with color of [state] law in the context of federal civil-rights statutes or criminal law.