Legal Definitions - decretal

The term decretal is an adjective used to describe something that pertains to, or has the character of, a formal order or decision issued by an authoritative body, such as a court or a government agency. It refers to anything that is part of, or directly connected with, an official pronouncement or command.

• Example: After a lengthy trial, the judge issued a comprehensive ruling that included several decretal provisions, outlining the specific actions the losing party was required to take.
  Explanation: Here, "decretal provisions" refers to the parts of the judge's official order (the decree) that contain commands or mandates, detailing what must be done.
• Example: The environmental protection agency published a new set of regulations, and within the document, there was a particularly decretal section mandating immediate compliance for all industrial facilities regarding waste disposal.
  Explanation: This example uses "decretal section" to highlight the part of the agency's official directive (the decree) that contains a clear, authoritative command requiring specific actions from regulated entities.
• Example: When the city council passed the new zoning ordinance, it included a decretal clause that explicitly prohibited any new commercial construction within residential areas for the next five years.
  Explanation: In this context, "decretal clause" describes a specific part of the city council's official legislative act (which functions as a decree in this context) that issues a direct prohibition or command.