Erstordnung

Erstordnung, literally “first regulation,” is a term used in German-speaking contexts to designate the initial set of rules or orders within a sequence of normative acts or command structures. Its exact meaning is domain-specific and not uniformly defined across jurisdictions.

In legal and administrative texts, Erstordnung can denote the first phase of a regulatory framework issued at the outset of a policy or project. It may be provisional or transitional and can be superseded by later acts, such as a Zweitordnung or Folgeordnungen, as the system develops. The term often appears in transitional provisions within statutes or in draft documents to mark the initial regulatory layer.

In emergency management and public administration, Erstordnung may describe the initial directives issued to initiate a response or implementation process, before more detailed orders are issued. It reflects the hierarchical ordering of rules rather than a fixed, universally defined concept.

Etymology and usage notes: The term combines Erst (first) and Ordnung (order, regulation). Because usage varies by jurisdiction and period, it is primarily encountered in specialized legal, administrative, or technical texts. See also Ordnung, Verordnung, Notverordnung.