Simple English definitions for legal terms
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A decretum is a decision made by a person in power that must be followed. In Roman law, it was a decision made by the emperor, and in Ecclesiastical law, it was a religious law.
A decretum is a decision made by a magistrate or emperor that has mandatory force. In Roman law, it refers to a judgment made by the emperor at first instance or on appeal. An example of a decretum would be a decision made by the emperor on a legal case. In Ecclesiastical law, it refers to an ecclesiastical law, which is different from a secular law. Plural form of decretum is decreta.
These examples illustrate that a decretum is a decision made by a magistrate or emperor that has mandatory force. It can be a judgment made by the emperor on a legal case or an ecclesiastical law in Ecclesiastical law.