Kata “kuasa” dalam konteks hukum dapat diterjemahkan menjadi power, authority, authorization atau power of attorney. Kata “kuasa” juga dapat mengacu pada orang yang dikuasakan atau diberi kuasa, sehingga dapat diterjemahkan menjadi holder of authorization, holder of authority, holder of power of attorney, attorney-in-fact atau attorney-at-law.
Untuk menerjemahkan kata ini dengan tepat, kita perlu memahami maknanya dan konteks di mana kata ini digunakan. Sebelum kita mengupas terjemahan kata “kuasa” dalam konteks hukum, ada baiknya kita simak makna kata “kuasa” yang dikutip dari Kamus Besar Bahasa Indonesia (KBBI offline) yang disertai dengan beberapa contoh kalimat dan terjemahannya dalam bahasa Inggris.
Kuasa (Menurut KBBI):
1. kemampuan atau kesanggupan (untuk berbuat sesuatu); kekuatan; (ability, power)
Contoh kalimat:
Ia tak memiliki kuasa untuk berbuat sesuatu untuk mengatasi permasalahan itu.
Alternatif terjemahan:
He/she has no power to do anything to overcome the issue.
He/she is unable to do anything to overcome the issue.
He/she could not do anything to overcome the issue.
2. wewenang atas sesuatu atau untuk menentukan (memerintah, mewakili, mengurus, dsb) sesuatu (power, authority, authorization);
Contoh kalimat:
Sekretaris itu tidak diberi kuasa untuk menandatangani surat yg penting itu.
Alternatif terjemahan:
The secretary was not given any authorization to sign that important letter.
The secretary was not authorized to sign that important letter.
Pak Wayan adalah pemegang kuasa di daerah ini.
Terjemahan:
Mr Wayan is the holder of authority in this area.
3. pengaruh (gengsi, kesaktian, dsb) yg ada pd seseorang krn jabatannya (martabatnya) (power, authority);
Contoh kalimat:
Ia berkuasa di perusahaan ini.
Terjemahan:
He/She has power in this company.
4. mampu; sanggup (able);
Contoh kalimat:
Ia tiada kuasa untuk mencegah kepergian anaknya.
Terjemahan:
He/she was unable to prevent his/her daughter/son from leaving.
5. orang yg diserahi wewenang (holder of authorization, holder of authority, holder of power of attorney, attorney-in-fact, attorney-at-law)
Contoh kalimat:
Heru adalah kuasa saya. (kuasa biasa)
Terjemahan: Heru is my attorney-in-fact.
John adalah kuasa hukum saya.
Terjemahan: John is my attorney-at-law.
Sekarang mari kita bahas terjemahan kata “kuasa” dalam konteks hukum dengan mengupas perbedaan holder of authorization, holder of authority, holder of power of attorney, attorney-in-fact dan attorney-at-law dengan melihat makna masing-masing kata atau frasa ini dalam kamus-kamus hukum sebagai berikut:
authority 1. Official power given to someone to do something, e.g. He has no authority to act on our behalf; She was acting on the authority of the court; On whose authority was the charge brought? 2. the authorities the government, police or official organisations with legal powers to control things. – P.H. Collin’s Dictionary of Law (Fourth Edition)
Authorization 1. official permission or power to do something, e.g. Do you have authorisation for this expenditure?; He has no authorisation to act on our behalf. 2. a document showing that someone has official permission to do something, e.g. He showed the bank his authorisation to inspect the contents of the safe. – P.H. Collin’s Dictionary of Law (Fourth Edition)
power of attorney n. a written document signed by a person giving another person the power to act in conducting the signer’s business, including signing papers, checks, title documents, contracts, handling bank accounts and other activities in the name of the person granting the power. The person receiving the power of attorney (which means agent) is “attorney in fact” for the person giving the power, and usually signs documents as “Melinda Hubbard, attorney in fact for Guilda Giver.” There are two types of powers of attorney: a) general power of attorney which covers all activities, and b) special power of attorney which grants powers limited to specific matters, such as selling a particular piece of real estate, handling some bank accounts, or executing a limited partnership agreement. A power of attorney may expire on a date stated in the document or upon written cancellation. Usually the signer acknowledges before a notary public that he/she executed the power, so that it is recordable if necessary, as in a real estate transaction. – The Free Dictionary by Farlex (http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/power+of+attorney)
Perbedaan attorney-in-fact dengan attorney-at-law
attorney-in-fact n. someone specifically named by another through a written “power of attorney” to act for that person in the conduct of the appointer’s business. In a “general power of attorney” the attorney-in-fact can conduct all business or sign any document, and in a “special power of attorney” he/she can only sign documents or act in relation to special identified matters. Too often people sign themselves as attorney-in-fact for relatives or associates without any power of attorney. If someone claims to be able to sign for another, a demand to see the written power of attorney is reasonable and necessary. In real estate matters the power of attorney must be formally acknowledged before a notary public so that it can be recorded along with the real estate deed, deed of trust, mortgage, or other document. – The Free Dictionary by Farlex (http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/attorney-in-fact)
attorney-at-law (or attorney-at-law):
n. a slightly fancier way of saying attorney or lawyer. – The Free Dictionary by Farlex (http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/attorney%20at%20law)
Dari uraian di atas, dapat dikatakan bahwa holder of authority dapat mengacu pada pemegang kuasa atau wewenang sedangkan holder of authorization dapat mengacu pada pemegang kuasa atau wewenang atau pemegang izin misalnya dalam konteks izin untuk bertindak atas nama pemberi izin/kuasa untuk menandatangi sebuah surat, untuk menarik uang dari rekening pemberi kuasa, dll. Namun, jika kata authorization dibandingkan dengan power of attorney, maka dapat dikatakan bahwa power of attorney dapat memiliki cakupan aktivitas yang lebih luas seperti yang diuraikan di atas meskipun ada dua jenis power of attorney yaitu general power of attorney dan special power of attorney seperti yang dikutip di atas.
Sementara perbedaan attorney-in-fact dengan attorney-at-law terletak pada profesi pemegang kuasa di mana attorney-in-fact adalah kuasa biasa (pemegang kuasa bukan seorang kuasa hukum) sedangkan attorney-at-law adalah seorang kuasa hukum yang berprofesi sebagai pengacara atau sejenisnya.
References:
KBBI Offline
P.H. Collin’s Dictionary of Law (Fourth Edition)
The Free Dictionary by Farlex
Article by Luh Windiari
