Ultra Vires describes actions that are:

• A. Beyond the authority
• B. Within the powers
• C. Intra vires
• D. Beyond the powers

Answer: (D)

Ultra vires means acting beyond the powers granted by law. It comes from Latin, where ultra means beyond and vires means powers. In practice, when a city, council, or officer does something outside the authority conferred by the enabling statute or by-law, that action is ultra vires and typically has no legal effect or can be challenged. This is why the best fit is beyond the powers—it's the precise way to express exceeding the legally granted authority. Actions within the powers are valid (intra vires). While “beyond the authority” conveys a similar idea, the established legal phrasing tied to ultra vires is "beyond the powers."