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
Albania
Antigua and Barbuda
Parliament of Antigua and Barbuda:
Argentina
Australia
For constitutional amendments passed at a referendum:
1973 - October 1990:
1901–1972:
Austria
Bangladesh
Barbados
1969:
2020:
For bills amending the constitution:
The Bahamas
Belgium
In Belgium the enacting formula appears in the Belgian official journal (Belgisch Staatsblad/Moniteur belge) 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.
Belize
Botswana
Brazil
In Brazil the presidential assent to a bill is called "sanction". After passing both Houses of Congress (the Chamber of Deputies and the Federal Senate), 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:" (In Portuguese: "O Congresso Nacional decreta:"). 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 (the two documents are called the "autographs"): one is the text of the proposed law, the other is the final text of the statute. Technically, the first signature (on the autograph of the Bill sent by Congress) is the "sanction to the proposed law", that is, the approval of the bill, that transforms it in a Law, and the second signature (on the final version of the statute with the presidential enacting formula and a law number) 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" (in Portuguese: "Sanciono") 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 (approval), 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 (i.e. implicit approval) 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 (1822-1889)
Whenever the General Assembly of the Empire (made up of a Senate and of a Chamber of Deputies) 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 (that did not appear in the final version of the statute, after the imperial sanction): "The General Assembly decrees:" (in Portuguese: "A Assembleia Geral decreta:"). 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" (in Portuguese: "A Assembleia Geral dirige ao Imperador o decreto incluso, que julga vantajoso e útil ao Império, e pede a Sua Majestade Imperial, se digne dar a Sua sanção"). 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" (in Portuguese: "O Imperador consente"). 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 (in Portuguese: Carta de Lei). 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:
Chile
Colombia
Croatia
Words "Hrvatski sabor" (Croatian Parliament) 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 (other than God and the people of Croatia). 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.
Denmark
Dominica
Finland
Parliament of Finland (from 1917 onwards):
- Ordinary Acts (enacted in accordance with § 72 of the Constitution):
- Acts containing a limited derogation from the Constitution (enacted in accordance with § 73 of the Constitution):
- Acts concerning the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland:
Before 1917 (examples):
Fiji
France
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:
Ghana
Greece
Normal lawmaking
According to the current Constitution of Greece (since March, 1986) 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 (until March, 1986) 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.
- While, until Senate's formation:
- And during the Fourth National Assembly at Athens held between January, 1924 and September, 1925:
Also, during constitutional monarchy regime, under the Constitutions of 1864 (as amended in 1911 and re-enacted in 1935) 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.
- Especially, during Second Hellenic Republic period:
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 (i.e. constitutional amendentments without parliamentary approval), occasionally issued for politically transitional periods (and sometimes be submitted for sanction by the next National Assembly, in order to be formal constitutional amendements), are also enacted like:
Grenada
- 1967−1979, 1985−present:
Governor-General and the Advisory Council of Grenada:
- 1983−1984:
People's Revolutionary Government:
- 1979−1983:
Guyana
India
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 (parliament of the Republic of Ireland):
Standard:
- Since 1937:
- 1922-1937:
For an act with a preamble:
- Since 1937:
- 1922-1937:
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 (the official gazette) 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 (printed in capital letters when the law is published in the Gazette) and the counter-signatures of the President of the Council of Ministers (the Prime Minister) and of the keeper of the State Seal (an office held by the Minister of Justice). 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:
Kiribati
Lebanon
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 (Before 1998):
Malta
- Since 1974:
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 (Diario Oficial de la Federación).
Moldova
Parliament of the Republic of Moldova:
Namibia
Parliament of the Republic of Namibia:
Nauru
Netherlands
Estates-General of the Netherlands:
The text in Dutch is:
New Zealand
1986–1999:
Before 1986:
Nigeria
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
National Parliament of Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Philippines
Bills:
Joint Resolutions:
Peru
Portugal
The enacting clauses used in Portuguese legislation are determined by the Lei formulária (Formulary Law, Law no. 74/98).
- General presidential decrees
- Ratification of an international treaty
- Laws
- Resolutions
- Executive laws
OR
OR
All laws conclude with the date of approval by the respective legislative body and the signature of its presiding member (either the President of the Assembly of the Republic or the Prime Minister), 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" (in Portuguese: Publique-se), followed by the date of promulgation by the President of the Republic and the presidential signature (the name of the Head of State is printed in capital letters when the law is published). After the signature of the President, the counter-signature of the Prime Minister follows (preceded by the date of the counter-signature), 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 (Diary of the Republic).
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.
Ordinary law:
- Ordinary laws are published with the date of the sitting of the Grand and General Council on which the law was approved, so a law passed on 23 January 2019 would be worded as follows:
Constitutional law:
- Like ordinary laws, constitutional laws are published with the date of the sitting of the Council at which it was approved, as well as the votes in favour and against its passage, so a constitutional law which was passed on 3 December 2021 with 43 votes in favour would have its enacting clause worded as follows:
Qualified law:
- Qualified laws are worded similarly to constitutional laws:
Law of constitutional revision:
Decree:
- On some occasions, the following line may appear as part of the preamble before the second part:
Decree-law:
- Some types of decree-laws may use the following formula:
Delegated decree:
Parliamentary decree:
Regulation:
South Africa
Parliament of 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:
- For "general affairs" acts:
- For "own affairs" acts:
1 January 1981 to 3 September 1984:
31 May 1961 to 1 January 1981:
- For acts amending the entrenched clauses of the Constitution of 1961:
31 May 1910 to 31 May 1961:
- For acts amending the entrenched clauses of the South Africa Act 1909:
Spain
For Constitutions:
For organic acts:
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Parliament of Saint Kitts and Nevis:
Saint Lucia
1979−1988:
Since 1988:
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
House of Assembly of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines:
Singapore
Solomon Islands
National Parliament of the Solomon Islands:
Swaziland
Sweden
Switzerland
Trinidad and Tobago
Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago:
- Since 1976:
- 1962−1976:
Thailand
National Assembly of Thailand:
Constitution:
Act:
Royal Degree & Emergency Decree:
Royal Command:
Tuvalu
Uganda
United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland:
- For money bills:
- Under the Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949:
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 (have the same effect as bills):
Vanuatu
Venezuela
National Assembly of Venezuela:
Zambia
Zimbabwe
Former legislatures
- Acts of the Governor General of India in Council:
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:-(Chinese: "茲由香港總督參照立法局意見並得該局同意後,制定本條例,各條文如下:—")
- "Enacted by the Governor of Hong Kong, with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council thereof."(Chinese: "由香港總督參照立法局意見並得該局同意而制定。")
- 1997–1998: "Enacted by the Provisional Legislative Council." (Chinese: "由臨時立法會制定。")
- After 1998: "Enacted by the Legislative Council." (Chinese: "由立法會制定。")
- After 1998 (with preamble): "NOW, THEREFORE, it is enacted by the Legislative Council as follows—" (Chinese: "現由立法會制定本條例如下 ——")
- Before 1997:
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:-"
- Chinese: "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:"
- Portuguese: "A Assembleia Legislativa decreta, nos termos do artigo X do Estatuto Orgânico de Macau, para valer como lei no território de Macau, o seguinte:"
- 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:-"
- Chinese: "立法會根據《澳門特別行政區基本法》第七十一條(一)項,制定本法律。"
- Portuguese: "A Assembleia Legislativa decreta, nos termos da alínea 1) do artigo 71.º da Lei Básica da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau, para valer como lei, o seguinte: -"
- Before 1999:
- Chief Executive of Macau (Administrative regulations):
- "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:-"
- Chinese: "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)。"
- Portuguese: "O Chefe do Executivo, depois de ouvido o Conselho Executivo, decreta, nos termos da alínea 5) do artigo 50.º da Lei Básica da Região Administrativa Especial de Macau, para valer como regulamento administrativo independente (ou regulamento administrativo complementar, conforme o caso), o seguinte:"
- Governor of Macau (Decree-laws):
- "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:"
- Chinese: "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:"
- Portuguese: "O Governador - decreta, nos termos do artigo X do Estatuto Orgânico de Macau, para valer como lei no território de Macau, o seguinte:"
British crown dependencies
- Tynwald of the Isle of Man: "BE IT ENACTED by the King's [Queen'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 [Her] Most Excellent Majesty in Council, have adopted the following Law –" (French: "LES ETATS, moyennant la sanction de Sa Très Excellente Majesté en Conseil, ont adopté la Loi suivante –")
- Bailiwick-wide laws: "THE STATES, in pursuance of their Resolution[s] of DATE, have approved the following provisions which, subject to the Sanction of His [Her] 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[s] of DATE, have approved the following provisions which, subject to the Sanction of His [Her] Most Excellent Majesty in Council, shall have force of law in the Island[s] of Guernsey,[Alderney],[Herm and Jethou]."
- States of Alderney: "THE STATES OF ALDERNEY, in pursuance of their Resolution[s] of DATE, have approved the following provisions which, subject to the Sanction of His [Her] 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[s] of DATE, have approved the following provisions which, subject to the Sanction of His [Her] Most Excellent Majesty in Council, shall have force of law in Sark."
British overseas territories
- Anguilla House of Assembly: "ENACTED by the Legislature of Anguilla"
- Ascension Island Council: "Enacted by the Governor of Ascension after consultation with the Island Council of Ascension."
- Parliament of Bermuda: "Be it enacted by The King's [Queen's] Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and the House of Assembly of Bermuda, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-"
- House of Assembly of the British Virgin Islands: "ENACTED by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands as follows:-"
- Legislative Assembly of the Cayman Islands: "ENACTED by the Legislature of the Cayman Islands."
- Legislative Assembly of the Falkland Islands: "ENACTED by the Legislature of the Falkland Islands ⎯"
- Gibraltar Parliament: "ENACTED by the Legislature of Gibraltar:-"
- Legislative Assembly of Montserrat: "Be it enacted by The King's [Queen's] Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Montserrat, and by the authority of the same as follows:–".
- Pitcairn Island Council: "Enacted by the Governor of the Islands of Pitcairn, Henderson, Ducie and Oeno"
- Legislative Council of Saint Helena:"Enacted by the Governor of St Helena with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council of St Helena."
- Administrator of the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia: "BE it enacted by the Administrator of the Sovereign Base Areas of Akrotiri and Dhekelia as follows:-"
- Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly: "ENACTED by the Legislature of the Turks and Caicos Islands"
Supranational legislatures
European Union
Subnational legislatures
Australia
- Australian Capital Territory Legislative Assembly: "The Legislative Assembly for the Australian Capital Territory enacts as follows:"
- Parliament of New South Wales: "The Legislature of New South Wales enacts:"
- Northern Territory Legislative Assembly: "The Legislative Assembly of the Northern Territory enacts as follows:"
- Parliament of Queensland: "The Parliament of Queensland enacts–"
- Parliament of South Australia: "The Parliament of South Australia enacts as follows:"
- Parliament of Tasmania: "Be it enacted by His [Her] Excellency the Governor of Tasmania, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Council and House of Assembly, in Parliament assembled, as follows:"
- Parliament of Victoria: "The Parliament of Victoria enacts:"
- Parliament of Western Australia: "The Parliament of Western Australia enacts as follows:"
Canada
- Legislative Assembly of Alberta: "HIS [HER] MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, enacts as follows:"
- Legislative Assembly of British Columbia: "HIS [HER] MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of British Columbia, enacts as follows:"
- Legislative Assembly of Manitoba: "HIS [HER] MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba, enacts as follows:"
- Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick: "HIS [HER] Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of New Brunswick, enacts as follows:" (French: "Sa Majesté, sur l'avis et du consentement de l'Assemblée législative du Nouveau-Brunswick, décrète:")
- Newfoundland and Labrador House of Assembly: "Be it enacted by the Lieutenant-Governor and House of Assembly in Legislative Session convened, as follows:"
- Legislative Assembly of the Northwest Territories: "The Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly, enacts as follows:"
- Legislative Assembly of Nova Scotia: "Be it enacted by the Governor and Assembly as follows:"
- Legislative Assembly of Nunavut: "The Commissioner of Nunavut, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly, enacts as follows:"
- Legislative Assembly of Ontario: "HIS [HER] Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:"
- Legislative Assembly of Prince Edward Island: "BE IT ENACTED by the Lieutenant Governor and the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Prince Edward Island as follows:"
- National Assembly of Quebec: "The Parliament of Québec enacts as follows:" (French: "Le Parlement du Québec décrète ce qui suit:")
- Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan: "HIS [HER] MAJESTY, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of Saskatchewan, enacts as follows:"
- Yukon Legislative Assembly: "The Commissioner of Yukon, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly, enacts as follows:"
Germany
- Landtag of Hesse: "The Landtag has enacted the following law:" (German: "Der Landtag hat das folgende Gesetz beschlossen:")
- 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." (German: "Das vorstehende Gesetz wird hiermit ausgefertigt. Es ist im Gesetz- und Verordnungsblatt für das Land Hessen zu verkünden.")
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 of Aklan: "BE IT ENACTED by the Honorable Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Aklan that:"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bataan: "BE IT ENACTED by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bataan;"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bohol: "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 –"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bukidnon: "BE IT ORDAINED by the Honorable Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Province of Bukidnon, this [day] of [month], in the Year of Our Lord, [year]:"
- Alternative: "BE IT ORDAINED, by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bukidnon, this [day] of [month], in the Year of Our Lord, [year], that:"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Bulacan: "Be it enacted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in session assembled:"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cagayan: "NOW THEREFORE, be it resolved by this Body in session assembled to enact:"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Camarines Norte: "BE IT ORDAINED by the Honorable Sangguniang Panlalawigan that:"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cavite: "Now therefore, be it enacted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in session assembled that:"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cebu: "The Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cebu, hereby ORDAINS, that:"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Compostela Valley: "Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan, Compostela Valley Province, in Session Assembled that:"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cotabato: "Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Cotabato in a regular session assembled, THAT:"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Eastern Samar: "Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in its regular session duly assembled at the SP Session Hall, Legislative Building, Borongan, Eastern Samar on [date]."
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Ilocos Norte: "NOW, THEREFORE, Be it Ordained, that:"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Iloilo: "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:"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Isabela: "Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Isabela in its regular session duly assembled:"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Leyte: "BE IT ORDAINED by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in session assembled,"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Misamis Occidental: "Be it ordained, by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Misamis Occidental in Session that:"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Northern Samar: "BE IT ORDAINED by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in session assembled:"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Nueva Vizcaya: "Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in session assembled that:"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pampanga: "BE IT ORDAINED BY THE SANGGUNIANG PANLALAWIGAN OF PAMPANGA, in session assembled:"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pangasinan: "Be it enacted by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Pangasinan in session assembled:"
- Resolutions: "RESOLVED, by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in session assembled"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Rizal: "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:"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Samar: "RESOLVED, as it is hereby resolved, to enact the following:"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of South Cotabato: "Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of South Cotabato that:"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Southern Leyte: "Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan in session assembled."
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zambales: "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 –"
- Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zamboanga del Norte: "Be it ordained by the Sangguniang Panlalawigan of Zamboanga del Norte in session assembled"
Other legislatures
- Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao Regional Legislative Assembly: "Be it enacted by the Regional Assembly in session assembled."
- Metro Manila Council: "NOW, THEREFORE, pursuant to Section 6(d) 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:"
Saint Kitts and Nevis
- Nevis Island Assembly:"BE IT ENACTED by the King's [Queen's] Most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Nevis Island Assembly and by the authority of the same, as follows:–"
United Kingdom
Devolved institutions
- Northern Ireland Assembly: "BE IT ENACTED by being passed by the Northern Ireland Assembly and assented to by His [Her] Majesty as follows:"
- Scottish Parliament: Acts of the Scottish Parliament do not begin with a conventional enacting clause. Instead they begin with a phrase that reads: "The Bill for this Act of the Scottish Parliament was passed by the Parliament on [Date] and received Royal Assent on [Date]"
- Senedd (since 2020):
- Acts in the English language: "Having been passed by Senedd Cymru and having received the assent of His [Her] Majesty, it is enacted as follows:-"
- Acts in the Welsh language: "Gan ei fod wedi ei basio gan Senedd Cymru ac wedi derbyn cydsyniad Ei Fawrhydi [Ei Mawrhydi], deddfir fel a ganlyn:-"
- National Assembly for Wales (2006–2020):
- Acts in the English language: "Having been passed by the National Assembly for Wales and having received the assent of Her Majesty, it is enacted as follows:—"
- Acts in the Welsh language: "Gan ei fod wedi ei basio gan Gynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru a chael cysyniad Ei Mawrhydi, deddfir fel a ganlyn:—"
- Measures in the English language: "This Measure, passed by the National Assembly for Wales on [Date] and approved by Her Majesty in Council on [Date], enacts the following provisions:—"
- Measures in the Welsh language: "Mae'r Mesur hwn, a basiwyd gan Gynulliad Cenedlaethol Cymru ar [Dyddiad] ac a gymeradwywyd gan Ei Mawrhydi yn Ei Chyngor ar [Dyddiad], yn deddfu'r darpariaethau a ganlyn:—"
Former legislatures
- Parliament of Northern Ireland (1921–1972): "BE it enacted by the Queen's [King's] most Excellent Majesty, and the Senate and the House of Commons of Northern Ireland in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:-"
United States
State legislatures
- Alabama Legislature: "Be it enacted by the Legislature of Alabama"[4]
- Alaska Legislature: "Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Alaska"[5]
- Arizona State Legislature: "Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Arizona,"[6]
- Arkansas General Assembly: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Arkansas."[7]
- California State Legislature: "The People of the State of California do enact as follows:"[8]
- Colorado General Assembly: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:"
- For bills adopted by referendum, "Be it enacted by the People of the State of Colorado:"[9]
- Connecticut General Assembly: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Assembly convened:"[10]
- Delaware General Assembly: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Delaware"[11]
- Florida Legislature: "Be It enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:"[12]
- Georgia General Assembly: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Georgia"[13]
- Hawaii State Legislature: "Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Hawaii:"[14]
- Idaho Legislature: "Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho"[15]
- Illinois General Assembly: "Be it enacted by the People of the State of Illinois, represented in the General Assembly"[16]
- Indiana General Assembly: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Indiana"[17]
- Iowa General Assembly: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Iowa"[18]
- Kansas Legislature: "Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Kansas"[19]
- Kentucky General Assembly: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky"[20]
- Louisiana Legislature: "Be it enacted by the Legislature of Louisiana."[21]
- Maine Legislature: "Be it enacted by the People of the State of Maine as follows:"[22]
- Maryland General Assembly: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Maryland"[23]
- Massachusetts General Court: "Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:"[24]
- Michigan Legislature: "The People of the State of Michigan enact:"[25]
- Minnesota Legislature: "Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Minnesota"[26]
- Mississippi Legislature: "Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Mississippi"[27]
- Missouri General Assembly: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Missouri, as follows"[28]
- Montana Legislature: "Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Montana"[29]
- Nebraska Legislature: "Be it enacted by the people of the State of Nebraska"[30]
- Nevada Legislature: "The People of the State of Nevada, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows"
- For acts passed by popular initiative, "The People of the State of Nevada do enact as follows"[31]
- New Hampshire General Court: "Be it Enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court convened:"[32]
- New Jersey Legislature: "Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:" [33]
- New Mexico Legislature: "Be it enacted by the legislature of the state of New Mexico"[34]
- New York Legislature: "The People of the State of New York, represented in Senate and Assembly, do enact as follows,"[35]
- North Carolina General Assembly: "The General Assembly of North Carolina enacts:"[36]
- North Dakota Legislative Assembly: "Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of North Dakota"[37]
- Ohio General Assembly: "Be it enacted by the general assembly of the state of Ohio" (sic)[38]
- Oklahoma Legislature: "Be it enacted By the People of the State of Oklahoma"[39]
- Oregon Legislative Assembly: "Be It Enacted by the People of the State of Oregon:"[40]
- Pennsylvania General Assembly: "The General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania hereby enacts as follows:"[41]
- Rhode Island General Assembly: "It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:"[42]
- South Carolina General Assembly: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of South Carolina:"[43]
- South Dakota Legislature: "Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of South Dakota"[44]
- Tennessee General Assembly: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Tennessee"[45]
- Texas Legislature: "Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Texas:"[46]
- Utah State Legislature:"Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Utah,"[47]
- Vermont General Assembly: "It is hereby enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Vermont:"[48]
- Virginia General Assembly: "Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virginia"[49]
- Washington State Legislature: "Be it enacted by the Legislature of the State of Washington:"[50]
- West Virginia Legislature: "Be it enacted by the Legislature of West Virginia:"[51]
- Wisconsin Legislature: "The people of the state of Wisconsin, represented in senate and assembly, do enact as follows:"[52]
- Wyoming Legislature: "Be it Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Wyoming:"[53]
D.C. council and territorial legislatures
- District of Columbia Council: "Be it enacted by the Council of the District of Columbia,"[54]
- Virgin Islands Legislature: "Be it enacted by the Legislature of the Virgin Islands,"[55]
- Legislature of Guam: "Be it enacted by the people of Guam"[56]
References
- ^"1917 Constitution of Mexico". Archived from the original on March 3, 2007. Retrieved December 3, 2006.
- ^ For example: wikisource:nl:Wet op de adeldom (1994) or many others under wikisource:nl:Categorie:Nederlandse wetgeving; for an older example with a male sovereign, see wikisource:nl:Wet algemene bepalingen (1829)
- ^"An Act to Prohibit the Importation of Luxuries, or Articles not Necessary or of Common Use" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 27, 2007. Retrieved December 3, 2006.
- ^"Public Law No. 26-26". Archived from the original on November 1, 2006. Retrieved December 3, 2006.
- ^"Alabama Constitution". Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^"Alaska Constitution, Article II". Archived from the original on December 22, 2010. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^"Arizona State Constitution, Article 4, Section 24". Retrieved March 23, 2007.
- ^"Arkansas State Constitution, Article 5, Section 19". Archived from the original on April 24, 2008. Retrieved April 29, 2008.
- ^California State Assembly. " Session of the Legislature". Session of the Legislature. Statutes of California. State of California. Ch. 625.
- ^"Colorado State Constitution". Archived from the original on August 3, 2007. Retrieved March 24, 2008.
- ^"Connecticut State Constitution". Archived from the original on March 6, 2007. Retrieved March 25, 2007.
- ^"AN ACT TO AMEND CHAPTER 9, TITLE 29, DELAWARE CODE RELATING TO THE PUNISHMENT FOR ALTERING, DEFACING OR CONCEALING BILLS OR ACTS". Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- ^"Florida State Constitution, Article III, Section 6". Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- ^Georgia General Assembly. "HB 24". Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- ^"Hawaiʻi State Constitution - Article 3". Archived from the original on July 10, 2006. Retrieved April 13, 2006.
- ^"Idaho Constitution, Article III, Section 1". Archived from the original on May 7, 2012. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- ^"Illinois Legislative Glossary". Illinois General Assembly. Retrieved October 10, 2007.
- ^"Article Four of the Indiana State Constitution". Retrieved September 5, 2007.
- ^"Constitution of Iowa, Article III, Section 1". Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- ^"Kansas Constitution, Article Two, Section 20". Archived from the original on 2012-07-28. Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- ^"Section 62 of the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Kentucky". Kentucky Legislative Research Commission. Retrieved February 20, 2010.
- ^"Louisiana Constitution of 1974, Article III, Section 14". Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- ^"Maine State Constitution". Archived from the original on 2007-09-29. Retrieved March 25, 2007.
- ^"Maryland Constitution, Article III, Section 19". Retrieved July 21, 2012.
- ^"Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Part the Second, Chapter VI, Article VIII". Retrieved January 6, 2011.
- ^"Constitution of the State of Michigan of 1963, as amended". Retrieved September 1, 2007.
- ^"Minnesota State Constitution, Article IV". Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^"Constitution of the State of Mississippi". Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^"Missouri Constitution, Article III, Section 21". Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^"Montana Code Annotated Section 5-4-101". Archived from the original on 2012-07-25. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^"Nebraska Constitution Article III-13". Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^"Nevada Constitution, Article 4, Section 23". Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^"New Hampshire State Constitution". Retrieved March 25, 2007.
- ^"New Jersey State Constitution". Archived from the original on June 30, 2009. Retrieved December 29, 2005.
- ^"New Mexico Constitution, Article IV, Section 15". Archived from the original on July 12, 2012. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^"New York State Constitution, Article III §13" (PDF). The Constitution of the State of New York. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 6, 2006. Retrieved January 25, 2006.
- ^"North Carolina State Constitution, Article II". Archived from the original on May 21, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2006.
- ^"North Dakota 2011 Special Session Laws, Chapter 582" (PDF). Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^"Constitution Online". Ohio Constitution of 1851. Retrieved December 29, 2005.
- ^"Oklahoma Constitution, Article 5". Archived from the original (DOC) on 2013-04-11. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^"Oregon Laws 2011, Chapter 4". Archived from the original on 2012-07-24. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^"Pennsylvania Laws 2008, Act 3". Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^"ARTICLE VI - OF THE LEGISLATIVE POWER". The Rhode Island State Constitution. Archived from the original on December 19, 2005. Retrieved December 29, 2005.
- ^"SC Constitution Article III Legislative Department (Section 16)". The South Carolina State Constitution. Archived from the original on 2009-03-31. Retrieved Jun 6, 2009.
- ^"South Dakota Constitution, Article 3, § 18". Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^"Tennessee Constitution" (PDF). Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^"The Texas Constitution - Art 3 - Sec 29". The Texas Constitution. Archived from the original on January 16, 2006. Retrieved December 29, 2005.
- ^"Constitution of the State of Utah". Archived from the original on February 8, 2006. Retrieved February 23, 2006.
- ^"The Vermont Constitution". Retrieved March 25, 2007.
- ^M. T. S. (1921). "Effect of Omission of Enacting Clause in a Statute in Virginia". Virginia Law Review. 7 (6): 485–486. doi:10.2307/1063223. JSTOR 1063223.
- ^"Washington State Constitution". Archived from the original on December 24, 2005. Retrieved December 29, 2005.
- ^"West Virginia Constitution". Archived from the original on October 5, 2015. Retrieved December 29, 2005.
- ^"Wisconsin State Constitution, Article 4, Section 17". Archived from the original on 2006-11-16. Retrieved May 17, 2007.
- ^"Wyoming Constitution, Section 3, Article 21". Retrieved September 29, 2007.
- ^Council of the District of Columbia. "Careless Driving Amendment Act of 2012" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 31, 2013. Retrieved July 22, 2012.
- ^Legislature of the Virgin Islands. "An Act amendment title 12 Virgin Islands Code sections 1143 (c) (2) and 1152 (a)". Retrieved October 28, 2015.