List of enacting clauses


An enacting clause is a short phrase that introduces the main provisions of a law enacted by a legislature. It is also called enacting formula or enacting words. It usually declares the source from which the law claims to derive its authority.
In many countries, an enacting formula is not considered necessary and is simply omitted. When it is required, a common tactic by a bill's opponent is a motion to "strike the enacting clause", which would make the law unenforceable.
The simplest enacting clauses merely cite the legislature by which the law has been adopted; for example the enacting clause used in Australia since 1990 is "The Parliament of Australia enacts".

National legislatures

Barbados

1969:
2020:
For bills amending the constitution:

Belgium

In Belgium the enacting formula appears in the Belgian official journal when the law is promulgated and published, but is usually thereafter not included when the law is printed in compilations, or stored in internet databases, even official ones. The enacting clause is as follows.

Brazil

In Brazil the presidential assent to a bill is called "sanction". After passing both Houses of Congress, the final version of the bill, duly signed by the presiding officers of both Houses, is sent to the President of the Republic. The document is still called a "proposed law", with a bill number, and with the header "The National Congress decrees:". If the President approves the bill, a different copy of the act is prepared by the Presidency of the Republic, with the official number of the Law and the date of enactment of the law, and also with the replacement of the clause "The National Congress decrees:" with the above-mentioned formula "THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC: I make it known that the National Congress decrees and I sanction the following Law:". The signatures of the presiding officers of Congress are therefore not present in this version of the act. This is the version of the statute that is published in the Official Journal and that is included in the statute books. When granting his approval to a bill, the President signs both the bill sent to him by Congress and the final version of the statute with the presidential enacting formula. The signed Bill is returned to Congress by means of a presidential message; the signed statute with the presidential enacting formula is printed in the Official Journal, and the original is thereafter sent to the National Archive. Thus, in Brazil, the President is always seen signing two different documents at bill signing ceremony : one is the text of the proposed law, the other is the final text of the statute. Technically, the first signature is the "sanction to the proposed law", that is, the approval of the bill, that transforms it in a Law, and the second signature is the promulgation, the announcement to the people that the Law has been adopted. While the signature of the President on the bill includes the addition of the formula "I sanction it" above the signature, this is not seen in the final "promulgation" autograph of the statute. On the other hand, the promulgated statute contains not only the signature of the president, but also the countersignatures of his ministers principally charged with applying the law.
When the president vetoes a bill, and the veto is overridden, the Bill is returned by Congress to the President not for sanction, but merely for promulgation. In that case, the president is expected to promulgate the bill in 48 hours. In that situation, the enacting formula that appears in the final text of the adopted statute is as follows:
Tacit sanction is deemed to take place if the president fails to sign or veto a bill within the constitutionally mandated timeframe of fifteen working days from receiving the bill. Once the bill is considered implicitly sanctioned, the president is expected to promulgate the new law and the same 48-hour timeframe applies. The formula in this case is:
Should the president refuse to promulgate, or fail to promulgate in the period of 48 hours, a bill, after his veto has been overridden by Congress, then the authority to promulgate the bill passes to the President of the Senate. In that case, the formula of promulgation is:
Should the president of the Republic refuse to promulgate, or fail to promulgate in the period of 48 hours, a bill, after the bill has been implicitly sanctioned due to his failure to sign or veto it within the constitutionally mandated timeframe, then the authority to promulgate the bill passes to the President of the Senate. In that case, the formula of promulgation is:
Whenever the president adopts a provisional measure and the provisional measure is approved by Congress with changes, a normal bill is sent to the president for approval or veto, and the same formulas used for other bills are employed; once enacted, the new statute replaces the provisional measure. However, if the provisional measure adopted by the president is approved by Congress without changes, the bill does not need to be presented for approval or veto; in that case, the law that both corresponds fully to the provisional measure and replaces it is promulgated directly by the President of the Senate, with the following words:
Historical: General Assembly of the Empire of Brazil
Whenever the General Assembly of the Empire passed a bill, a decree of the General Assembly containing the articles of the approved bill was sent to the Emperor for sanction or veto. The Decree of the General Assembly began with the following formula : "The General Assembly decrees:". The decree was still only a proposed law, that would become an actual law if sanctioned by the Emperor. The General Assembly sent its decree to the Emperor for sanction or veto by means of a message with the words following: "The General Assembly sends to the Emperor the enclosed decree, that it considers advantageous, and useful to the Empire, and it asks that His Imperial Majesty may be pleased to grant it His sanction". If the Emperor decided to sanction the decree, then he sent the message of the General Assembly back to the Legislature, adding after the text of the Decree of the General Assembly the following words, together with the date and his signature: ""The Emperor consents". Then, the Executive branch prepared a formal document to promulgate the new law, and this document was known in the imperial period as a Charter of Law. It was the chartered version of the law that was included in the statute books and that was printed and published for the knowledge of the people. Thus, the Charter of Law was the final version of the statute as adopted. It was signed by the Emperor and countersigned by his responsible Ministers, and contained an enacting formula as follows:
When the powers of the Emperor were discharged by Regents on behalf of the monarch the formula was as follows:

Canada

The enacting clause for money bills differs. For example, in the Appropriation Act No. 4, 2015–16, it reads as follows:

Croatia

Words "Hrvatski sabor" are printed in uppercase as a header on all laws, thereby starting the enacting clause and symbolizing that there is no authority higher than the Parliament. This might be rooted in a popular quote from Ante Starčević in a parliamentary discussion in June 1861, as he stated that there is no-one above the parliamentary sovereignty. A brief statement follows, signed by the President of Croatia, promulgating the law, referring to his constitutional right to do so and the session of the parliament where the legislation has been passed.

Finland

:
Before 1917 :

Germany

For acts which do not need the consent of the Bundesrat:
For acts which need the consent of the Bundesrat:
For acts which need an absolute majority and the consent of the Bundesrat:
For acts that change the Basic Law:
All laws conclude with the following formula before the place and date of signature, the signature of the Federal President and the countersignatures of the Federal Chancellor and of the Federal Ministers responsible for the subject-matter of the law:

Greece

Normal lawmaking

According to the current Constitution of Greece each law is approved by the Parliament and promulgated by the President of the Republic.
Before the first amendment of the current Constitution of Greece each law had to be approved by the Parliament and then to be ratified and promulgated by the President of the Republic.
Under the presidential parliamentary Constitution of 1927 and since the Senate's formation in June, 1929, each law had to be approved by the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate and then to be promulgated by the President of Republic.
Also, during constitutional monarchy regime, under the Constitutions of 1864 and 1952, each law had to be approved by both the Parliament and the King and then promulgated by the later.
  • Especially, under the Constitution of 1844, each law had to be approved by the Chamber of Deputies, the Senate and the King and then promulgated by the last.

Lawmaking under the [state of emergency]

In case of extremely urgent unforeseen situations, the Constitution grants the Greek government along with the President of the Republic to issue legislative acts bypassing the parliamentary approval, in order to deal with urgent issues, provided that act to be later submitted for sanction in Parliament within forty days after either its promulgation or the parliamentary session convocation, in order to acquire legal power.
Under the previous presidential parliamentary Constitutions, Emergency laws and legislative decrees were enacted by the following clause:
  • Especially, during Second Hellenic Republic period, emergency laws and legislative decrees were enacted by the following clause:
During the Kingdom of Greece period, emergency laws and legislative decrees were enacted by the following clause:
  • Especially, under 1952 Constitution, the legislative decrees were promulgated only during the absence of Parliament-in-session with consent of a special parliamentary committee, consisted of a fixed by law number of MPs appointed in advance at the start of each session.

Constitutional and Parliament Regulation amendments

Currently, any amendment of the Constitution Law must be published in the official government gazette of the Hellenic Republic, directly ordered by the Speaker of the Parliament.
Likewise, any amendment of the Work Regulation Law of the Hellenic Parliament must be published in the official government gazette of the Hellenic Republic, directly ordered by the Speaker of the Parliament.

Presidential and Royal decrees

The President of Hellenic Republic is the sole authorized state official to promulgate decrees, according to the current Constitution. In case of President's absence/incapacity/retirement, the decrees are legally promulgated by the President of the Parliament, performing as Acting President of the Republic.
During the Kingdom of Greece period, the clause of the equivalent Royal decrees, issued only by the King or the authorized regent, was:

Other Acts

Acts issued by the Cabinet, being inferior than decrees, enact secondary legislation. Distinctively, various Constituent Acts, occasionally issued for politically transitional periods, are also enacted like:

Grenada

Governor-General and the Advisory Council of Grenada:
People's Revolutionary Government:

Indonesia

Indonesian laws have a preamble stating the aims of the law and the clauses of the Constitution relevant to the law. The enacting clause is both before and after the preamble.
People's Representative Council:
Before constitutional amendments in year 2000, the phrase after the preamble was as follows:

Ireland

The Oireachtas :
Standard:
For an act with a preamble:

Israel

Currently, Israel does not use enacting clauses in its final laws, but a pseudo-enacting clause is usually printed at the beginning of bills:
However, the Law and Administration Ordinance did have an enacting clause:

Italy

Italian laws are published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale with the following enacting clauses:
Standard:
Constitutional amendments passed by a two-thirds majority in each House:
Constitutional amendments passed by a majority of the entire membership in each House of Parliament and approved by referendum:
Constitutional amendments passed by a majority of the entire membership in each House of Parliament and on which a referendum has not been requested:
After the text of the law itself, the enacting clause continues:
After this concluding clause, the place and date of signature follow. Then the signature of the President of the Republic and the counter-signatures of the President of the Council of Ministers and of the keeper of the State Seal. Those counter-signatures are printed in normal letters when the law is published in the Gazette. The keeper of the State seal counter-signs the law when sealing it.
Thereafter, this enacting clause is usually omitted when the law is reprinted in internet compilations or legal books.

Jamaica

1962−2024:
Since 2024:

Malaysia

Since 1998:
Before 1998:
Special laws invoking Article 149 of the Constitution of Malaysia:
Special laws invoking Article 149 of the Constitution of Malaysia :

Mexico

After approving laws, Congress issues them as a decree in the manner stablished by Article 70 of the Constitution. Congress then sends the decree to the President for him to assent or veto the law. If the President grants assent to the law, he then issues a decree formally enacting it. Decrees are published in the Official Journal of the Federation.
Congress of the Union:

Netherlands

The text in Dutch is:

New Zealand

1986–1999:
Before 1986:

Philippines

Bills:
Joint Resolutions:

Portugal

The enacting clauses used in Portuguese legislation are determined by the Lei formulária.
President of the Republic
  • General presidential decrees
  • Ratification of an international treaty
Assembly of the Republic:
  • Laws
  • Resolutions
Government
  • Executive laws
OR
OR
All laws conclude with the date of approval by the respective legislative body and the signature of its presiding member, followed by the formula of promulgation by the President of the Republic. This formula of promulgation is very simple, consisting only of the clause "Let it be published", followed by the date of promulgation by the President of the Republic and the presidential signature. After the signature of the President, the counter-signature of the Prime Minister follows, and the name of the Prime Minister is printed in normal letters when the law is published. No law can enter into force before being officially published in the Diário da República.

Romania

1965–1989:
1948–1965:
1881–1947:

San Marino

The enacting clause used in Sammarinese laws consists of two parts, the first is always the same when an enacting clause is used, and consists of the following:
The clause refers to San Marino as "The Most Serene Republic", however this is not its official name.
The second part of the enacting clause comes at the end of the preamble, if any, and differs depending on the type of law in which it is contained and if certain actions may have been taken during its enactment.
Ordinary law:
Constitutional law:
Qualified law:
Law of constitutional revision:
Decree:
Decree-law:
Delegated decree:
Parliamentary decree:
Regulation:
Congress of State:
Like with legislation from the Grand and General Council, ordinances issued by the Congress of State consists of two parts which is usually separated by a preamble.

South Africa

Since 27 April 1994:
or
The Constitution of South Africa, not being a conventional Act of Parliament, does not contain an enacting formula per se. Its preamble does, however, contain the words In the context, "we" refers to the people of South Africa.
3 September 1984 to 27 April 1994:
1 January 1981 to 3 September 1984:
31 May 1961 to 1 January 1981:
31 May 1910 to 31 May 1961:

Spain

For Constitutions:
For organic acts:

Saint Lucia

1979−1988:
Since 1988:

Thailand

Constitution:
Act:
Royal Degree & Emergency Decree:
Royal Command:

United Kingdom

An enacting clause may be preceded by an explanatory preamble of "whereas" clauses, e.g. for the Chequers Estate Act 1917.
Until the 19th century each later section of an act repeated an abbreviated version of the formula used in the first section, typically "and be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid". The first revised edition of the statutes omitted these formulae to save space, while printing the primary enacting clause. The Statute Law Revision Act 1888 deleted these formulae from many unrepealed acts.

United States

Bills:
Joint Resolutions :

Former legislatures

Territorial legislatures

Hong Kong

  • Legislative Council of Hong Kong
  • * Before 1997:
  • **"BE it enacted by the Governor of Hongkong, with the advice of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-"
  • **"BE it enacted by the Governor of Hong Kong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof, as follows:-
  • **"Enacted by the Governor of Hong Kong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof."
  • * 1997–1998: "Enacted by the Provisional Legislative Council."
  • * After 1998: "Enacted by the Legislative Council."
  • * After 1998 : "NOW, THEREFORE, it is enacted by the Legislative Council as follows—"

Macau

  • Legislative Assembly of Macau:
  • *Before 1999:
  • **"The Legislative Assembly decrees, pursuant to the terms of article X of the Organic Statute of Macau, that the following shall be enforced as law:-"
  • **"立法會根據澳門憲章，第X條之規定，命令制訂在澳門地區具有法律效力條文如下："
  • **
  • *After 1999:
  • **"The Legislative Assembly decrees, pursuant to the terms of article 71, paragraph 1) of the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region, that the following shall be enforced as law:-"
  • **"立法會根據《澳門特別行政區基本法》第七十一條項，制定本法律。"
  • **
  • Chief Executive of Macau :
  • *"The Chief Executive, after consulting the Executive Council, decrees, pursuant to the terms of article 50, paragraph 5) of the Basic Law of the Macao Special Administrative Region, enacts this independent/supplementary administrative regulation:-"
  • *"行政長官根據《澳門特別行政區基本法》第五十條（五）項，經徵詢行政會的意見，制定本獨立行政法規（或補充性行政法規）。"
  • *
  • Governor of Macau :
  • *"The Governor - decrees, under the terms of article X of the Organic Statute of Macau, to be valid as law in the territory of Macau, the following:"
  • *"總督根據澳門憲章，第X條之規定，命令制訂在澳門地區具有法律效力條文如下："
  • *

British crown dependencies

  • Tynwald of the Isle of Man: "BE IT ENACTED by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Council and Keys in Tynwald assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-"
  • States of Jersey: "THE STATES, subject to the sanction of His Most Excellent Majesty in Council, have adopted the following Law -"
  • Bailiwick-wide laws: "THE STATES, in pursuance of their Resolution of DATE, have approved the following provisions which, subject to the Sanction of His Most Excellent Majesty in Council, shall have force of law in the Bailiwick of Guernsey."
  • States of Guernsey: "THE STATES, in pursuance of their Resolution of DATE, have approved the following provisions which, subject to the Sanction of His Most Excellent Majesty in Council, shall have force of law in the Island of Guernsey,,."
  • States of Alderney: "THE STATES OF ALDERNEY, in pursuance of their Resolution of DATE, have approved the following provisions which, subject to the Sanction of His Most Excellent Majesty in Council, shall have force of law in the Island of Alderney."
  • Chief Pleas of Sark: "THE CHIEF PLEAS OF SARK, in pursuance of their Resolution of DATE, have approved the following provisions which, subject to the Sanction of His Most Excellent Majesty in Council, shall have force of law in Sark."

British overseas territories

Subnational legislatures

Germany

  • Landtag of Hesse: "The Landtag has enacted the following law:"
  • :All laws conclude with the following formula before the place and date of signature, the signature of the Minister-President and the countersignatures of the State Ministers responsible for the subject-matter of the law: "The above law is hereby promulgated. It shall be published in the Law and Ordinance Gazette for the State of Hesse."

New Zealand

Provincial councils (abolished in 1876)

  • Canterbury Provincial Council: "Be it enacted by the Superintendent of the Province of Canterbury, by and with the advice and consent of the Provincial Council thereof, as follows:—"

Philippines

Sangguniang Panlalawigan (Provincial Board)

  • Aklan Provincial Board: "BE IT ENACTED by the Honorable Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan that:"
  • Bataan Provincial Board: "BE IT ENACTED by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bataan;"
  • Bohol Provincial Board: "Be it enacted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of Bohol in session duly assembled –"
  • * Resolutions: "BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of the Province of Bohol in session duly assembled –"
  • Bukidnon Provincial Board: "BE IT ORDAINED by the Honorable Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Province of Bukidnon, this of , in the Year of Our Lord, :"
  • * Alternative: "BE IT ORDAINED, by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bukidnon, this of , in the Year of Our Lord, , that:"
  • Bulacan Provincial Board: "Be it enacted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in session assembled:"
  • Cagayan Provincial Board: "NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved by this Body in session assembled to enact:"
  • Camarines Norte Provincial Board: "BE IT ORDAINED by the Honorable Sangguniang Panlalawigan that:"
  • Cavite Provincial Board: "Now therefore, be it enacted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in session assembled that:"
  • Cebu Provincial Board: "The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cebu, hereby ORDAINS, that:"
  • Davao de Oro Provincial Board : "Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Compostela Valley Province, in Session Assembled that:"
  • Cotabato Provincial Board: "Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cotabato in a regular session assembled, THAT:"
  • Eastern Samar Provincial Board: "Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in its regular session duly assembled at the SP Session Hall, Legislative Building, Borongan, Eastern Samar on ."
  • Ilocos Norte Provincial Board: "NOW, THEREFORE, Be it Ordained, that:"
  • Iloilo Provincial Board: "BE IT RESOLVED, as it is hereby Resolved, by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Iloilo to enact the following provincial ordinance:"
  • * Alternative: "BE IT ORDAINED, as it is hereby Ordained, by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in session assembled, that:"
  • Isabela Provincial Board: "Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Isabela in its regular session duly assembled:"
  • Leyte Provincial Board: "BE IT ORDAINED by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in session assembled,"
  • Marinduque Provincial Board: "Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Marinduque in session assembled:"
  • Misamis Occidental Provincial Board: "Be it ordained, by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Misamis Occidental in Session that:"
  • Northern Samar Provincial Board: "BE IT ORDAINED by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in session assembled:"
  • Nueva Vizcaya Provincial Board: "Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in session assembled that:"
  • Pampanga Provincial Board: "BE IT ORDAINED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN OF PAMPANGA, in session assembled:"
  • Pangasinan Provincial Board: "Be it enacted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pangasinan in session assembled:"
  • * Resolutions: "RESOLVED, by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in session assembled"
  • Rizal Provincial Board: "Be it enacted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan ng Rizal in a session duly assembled that:"
  • * Alternative: "Be it enacted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Rizal in Session Assembled:"
  • Samar Provincial Board: "RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved, to enact the following:"
  • South Cotabato Provincial Board: "Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of South Cotabato that:"
  • Southern Leyte Provincial Board: "Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in session assembled."
  • Zambales Provincial Board: "Now therefore, be it enacted, as it is hereby enacted, by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zambales in a session herein assembled, by virtue of the powers vested in it by law, that:"
  • * Alternative: "BE IT ORDAINED by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zambales in session assembled that –"
  • Zamboanga del Norte Provincial Board: "Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zamboanga del Norte in session assembled"

Other legislatures

  • Bangsamoro Parliament: "Be it enacted by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament in session assembled:"
  • * Alternative: "Be it enacted by the Bangsamoro Transition Authority in Parliament assembled:"
  • * Resolutions: "NOW, THEREFORE, be it RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved in the Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament"
  • Metro Manila Council: "NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to Section 6 of RA 7924, this Regulation is hereby adopted and promulgated by the Metro Manila Council, that:"
  • *Alternative: "NOW, THEREFORE, be it enacted by the Metro Manila Council, that:"
  • *Ordinances: "NOW THEREFORE, be it ordained by the Metro Manila Council pursuant to Section 4 of Executive Order No. 392 that:"

Former legislatures

Saint Kitts and Nevis

United Kingdom

Devolved institutions

United States

State legislatures

D.C. council and territorial legislatures