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Ermächtigungsgesetz

enabling act; law granting the executive extraordinary legislative powers

noun er-MEKH-tih-goongs-geh-zets Rare

Usage Note

Ermächtigungsgesetz is historically charged — it refers to laws enabling a government to legislate by decree without normal parliamentary procedure. The 1933 German example is the most notorious instance.

Examples

"Historiker warnen, wenn Parlamente Ermächtigungsgesetze verabschieden."

Natural Translation

Historians warn when parliaments pass enabling acts.

Literal Translation

Historians warn, when parliaments enabling-acts pass.

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