The lex specialis doctrine, also referred to as generalia specialibus non derogant ("the general does not derogate from the specific"), states that if two laws govern the same factual situation, a law governing a specific subject matter (lex specialis) overrides a law governing only general matters (lex generalis).
[1] The doctrine, recognized in both legal theory and practice, can apply in both domestic and international law contexts.
The name comes from the full statement of the doctrine, a legal maxim in Latin: Lex specialis derogat legi generali.
However, under the "lex posterior derogat legi priori" doctrine, lex specialis would be applied such that the younger specific law overrides the older general law.
[3] The principle also applies to construction of a body of law or single piece of legislation that contains both specific and general provisions.