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Simple English definitions for legal terms

grandfather clause

Read a random definition: Board of Veterans’ Appeals (BVA)

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

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19:03
Honestly, idk what I would call myself these days. Will probably not know until I can reflect on this part of my life which will be idk, in like 5 years when I am 32.
19:06
Does your life come in 5 year epochs typically?
19:06
Someone told me a while ago that I was probably molested as a kid because I don’t really have any clear memories of my childhood. But I don’t think I was.
1a2b3c4d26z
19:10
Inside thoughts!
19:10
this is where I post my inside thoughts
19:11
Nah, the fucked up thing about therapists is they try and make you think your parents are your enemy 99% of the time and really they should be telling you that your parents have almost no effect on the rest of your life. If they can get you to keep focusing on your parents they can keep making money.
19:12
Yeah, my life really does flow in about 5 years periods.
19:12
My crypto also flows in 5 day epochs too.
19:16
what do you do with your days as an unemployed crypto guy? do you play an instrument or something
19:47
please lawd
19:47
forgive me
19:47
its time to go back to tha old me
19:50
this is what i feel like when i get one single drill question right
19:50
when u get one wrong ;(
therapist slander detected
1a2b3c4d26z
20:37
Anyone got any polymarket locks
1a2b3c4d26z
20:37
Is anyone in here cool like fr cool
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20:37
Like watch college football cool
1a2b3c4d26z
20:37
Or like
1a2b3c4d26z
20:38
Frat
1a2b3c4d26z
20:39
Sorry guys I'm bored trying to get my Berkeley essay to 4 pages
20:40
no way they want four pages that’s crazy
20:41
bitches wanna be different sooo bad 😴
1a2b3c4d26z
20:42
Technically they want 3 to be completely fair to the powers that be, so I'm really trying to push out to 3
1a2b3c4d26z
20:42
But it's 1/2 inch margins
20:44
assuming it was 2 already, you’ve totally got 3 double spaced pages in you
20:45
should I watch the quirky umich dean videos? i feel like all of you have seen them except me but I can’t work up any enthusiasm for the idea
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