Decreti

Decreti, plural of decreto, are formal written orders with the force of law issued by a sovereign, government, or other competent authority. They function to regulate administrative matters, implement statutes, or declare policy directives. Decrees are distinguished from legislation in that they originate from executive or administrative power rather than a vote of the legislature; however, in many systems they operate within a framework of constitutional and statutory controls.

In civil law countries the term covers a variety of acts, including executive decrees, regulatory decrees, and legislative decrees. In Italy, for example, decreti-legge are emergency decrees issued by the government that have temporary force until Parliament approves a conversion into law, while decreti legislativi are decrees issued by the government under delegated authority to implement statutes. In other constitutional systems, decrees may be signed by the head of state or the head of government and may require publication in an official gazette to take effect; they are often subject to judicial review or later parliamentary confirmation.

Decrees regulate a broad range of subjects, such as public administration, budgeting, criminal procedure, civil service, and administrative organization. They can also address local, regional, or religious matters depending on jurisdiction. In addition to secular uses, the term appears in religious contexts, where papal decrees or church decrees communicate doctrinal or administrative decisions.

The exact scope, form, and controls over decrees vary by country, but they generally serve to translate legislative intent into concrete rules and to enable timely government action in administration and policy implementation.