Regenciar

Regenciar is a verb used to describe the act of exercising a regency, i.e., governing on behalf of a monarch who cannot rule personally. It is most often found in the context of monarchies with a constitutional or legal framework for regency. The regent acts in the name of the monarch but within limits set by law, custom, and the constitution. The term is closely related to regência (the institution) and regente (the person who acts as regent). In Portuguese-language usage, regenciar may appear in historical or legal texts as a formal verb.

A regent typically assumes the executive functions of government during the monarch's minority, illness, or incapacity. Powers may include appointing and dismissing ministers, signing decrees or budgets, supervising the administration, and directing foreign affairs, military command, and internal security, subject to the constraints of the regency instrument. The scope of authority is defined by a regency act, constitutional clause, or royal mandate, and it often requires oversight by a regency council or cabinet.

Regency ends when the monarch reaches adulthood or regains capacity, or when the legal framework is revoked. Notable historical examples include the Regency period in Britain during the early 19th century, when Prince George, later King George IV, acted as regent. In general, regenciar is a formal expression for the temporary transfer of sovereign power, used mainly in historical, legal, and literary contexts.