List of enacting clauses

This article relies excessively on references to primary sources. Please improve this article by adding secondary or tertiary sources. Find sources: "List of enacting clauses" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

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.^[1] 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".