Act

Act

An act is a formal decision, law, or statute enacted by a legislative body, such as a parliament or congress. Acts are a primary source of law and are used to regulate, authorize, proscribe, provide (funds), sanction, grant, declare, or restrict. The process of creating an act is known as legislation.

Types of Acts

Acts can be classified into various types based on their purpose and scope:

• Public Acts: These are laws that apply to the general public and are of general application. They are also known as general statutes.
• Private Acts: These are laws that apply to specific individuals, organizations, or localities. They are also known as special statutes.
• Appropriation Acts: These are laws that authorize the expenditure of government funds.
• Enabling Acts: These laws grant new powers to individuals or organizations.

Process of Enactment

The process of enacting an act typically involves several stages:

1. Proposal: A bill is proposed by a member of the legislative body or by the executive branch. 2. Debate: The bill is debated by the members of the legislative body. 3. Committee Review: The bill is reviewed by a committee, which may make amendments. 4. Voting: The bill is voted on by the legislative body. If it passes, it moves to the next stage. 5. Executive Approval: The bill is sent to the executive branch (e.g., the President or Monarch) for approval. 6. Enactment: Once approved, the bill becomes an act and is published as law.

Historical Examples

• The Magna Carta (1215) is one of the earliest examples of an act that laid the foundation for modern legal systems.
• The Civil Rights Act of 1964 in the United States was a landmark act that outlawed discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, or national origin.

Related Concepts

• Bill (law)
• Legislation
• Statute
• Ordinance
• Regulation

See Also

• Legislative process
• Law
• Government
• Constitution
• Judiciary