Warning

Info

Warning

Info

Warning

Info

LSDefine

Simple English definitions for legal terms

grandfather clause

Read a random definition: vinculum personarum ab eodem stirpite descendentium

A quick definition of grandfather clause:

A grandfather clause is a part of a law that says if you were doing something before the law changed, you can keep doing it even if it's not allowed anymore. This is to make sure that people or businesses who were already doing something don't get hurt by the new law. For example, if a new law says that all cars have to be electric, a grandfather clause might say that cars that were already made can still be driven even if they use gas. The name comes from a bad law a long time ago that only let white people vote, but said that if your grandfather could vote before, you could too.

A more thorough explanation:

Definition: A grandfather clause is a provision in a law or regulation that allows individuals or businesses who were already engaged in a regulated activity to continue doing so even after the law or regulation changes. This clause limits how changes will be applied to legal relations and activities existing prior to the change.

For example, if a new law requires all power plants to be carbon neutral, a grandfather clause may allow currently operating power plants to be exempt from the new requirement for a certain period of time, giving them time to prepare for the change.

The term "grandfather clause" originated from a set of voting laws in the Southern United States after the Civil War. These laws required individuals to pass literacy tests, own property, and pay poll taxes in order to vote. However, exceptions were made for individuals whose grandfathers had voted before the Civil War. This effectively prevented most African Americans from being able to vote after the implementation of these laws.

Grandfather clauses can be beneficial for businesses or individuals who relied on the prior system and would be critically harmed by sudden changes. However, they can also perpetuate inequalities and discrimination, as seen in the example of the voting laws in the South.

grand theft | grandfathered in

Warning

Info

General

General chat about the legal profession.
main_chatroom
👍 Chat vibe: 0 👎
Help us make LSD better!
Tell us what's important to you
Dkk
19:42
Maybe, didnt happen last time.
19:42
it was hard to not improve it. google search was terrible due to the ads and seo cheaters with buzz words and alt text
Dkk
19:42
SEO is big money
2016 pushed the conservative party into populism irreversibly
Dkk
19:43
Maybe, but if this is populism, then every election is populist.
19:43
@Dkk: yeah register 1 website and every swinging tom dick and harry calls/emails/texts to 'help with seo'. like bruh, if YOU found it, what i am doing is working
Dkk
19:43
Indeed!
19:48
wasp, i think people are hopeful for a gov who at least attempts to care about the common man
MIAMI A
[] AromaticTroubledDormouse
20:55
How does one know if they are UR1 or UR2?
[] AromaticTroubledDormouse
20:56
CONGRATS MACAQUE!
TY
got a random stanford email and almost had a heart attack
ALSO CONGRATS!
Congrats1!
21:15
Miami A, yall I'm so excited I could cry.
21:15
Feel like I can finally stop holding my breath!! Whew!!!
[] baddestbunny
22:16
every time I get accosted by a strange man who follows me around because my male coworkers were too busy talking to walk me back to my car I get closer to saying we need to bring back traditional gender roles
Dkk
22:32
Nice! @Macaque
Dkk
22:32
@Aromatic, Have to guess.
Dkk
22:33
That sucks @Bunny do you have to go to the hospital?
[] baddestbunny
22:40
I said accosted not assaulted
23:35
guys. my notre dame address just went long is this good or bad
1a2b3c4d26z
23:37
Oooooo me too
23:37
omg is this good or bad
Dkk
23:47
Idk if gender roles are gunna fix that then.
23:49
it looks like most people who applied in october last cycle didn't get a decision until january... does it even mean anything that our addresses went long??
hows ED 2 compared to ED 1?
Dkk
0:10
No idea
windyMagician
0:34
reporting live to say my ndls address also went long
LSD+ is ad-free, with DMs, discounts, case briefs & more.