Promulgués

Promulgués is the plural form of the participle promulgué and is used in legal contexts to refer to normative acts—such as laws, decrees, or regulations—that have completed the promulgation step and are officially in force. The term emphasizes that the text has been publicly proclaimed by the competent authority and is binding on the population.

In most legal systems, promulgation follows formal adoption by a legislative body. The executive or head of state then promulgates the act, which is typically accompanied by publication in an official gazette or similar record. Publication serves to notify the public and specify the act’s entry into force, which may be immediate or set for a future date. Some jurisdictions also require a waiting period between promulgation and enforcement.

Promulgation should be distinguished from other stages of the legislative process. Adoption or enactment refers to approval by the legislature, while publication is the dissemination to the public. Promulgation is the act that legitimizes the text as applicable law; without promulgation, a measure may exist in draft or unable to be enforced in practice.

Etymology and usage: promulgar comes from Latin promulgere, meaning to publish publicly. The term is widely used in civil law jurisdictions and appears in official discourse in French (promulgués), Spanish (promulgados), and other languages. Examples include texts promulgués by a president or monarch and published in an official journal, after which they acquire legal effect. See also promulgation and official gazette.