proper cause
Proper cause is actual legal reasoning or justification for an action or a decision. Proper cause protects fairness and reliability between parties. For example, in some employment contracts, proper cause for termination can include unsatisfactory performance reviews, insubordination, or theft. Proper cause differs from good cause because the former requires a legitimate showcase to justify an act, while good cause requires a less strict, legally sufficient standard.
In New York State Rifle & Pistol Association (NYSRPA) v. Bruen (2022), the Supreme Court ruled that New York State's heightened may issue requirement of “proper cause” in order to obtain a concealed carry pistol permit was a violation of the Second and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution, as individuals have a right to bear arms without any enhanced legal reasoning, special need, or justification.
[Last reviewed in April of 2026 by the Wex Definitions Team]
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