Punitive power
Defined in 1 dictionary — Black's (1910)
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
The power and authority of a state, or organized jural society, to inflict punishments upon those persons who have committed actions inherently evil and injurious to the public, or actions declared by the laws of that state to be sanctioned with punishments.
Defined under Punitive in Black's Law Dictionary.