Rendelet

Rendelet is a legal instrument meaning a decree or regulation issued by a government authority that has general applicability and binding force. It is used to implement laws or regulate administrative matters and is distinct from a formal law enacted by a parliament.

In Hungary, the term covers several forms. A kormányrendelet (government decree) is issued by the government and provides detailed rules to implement laws. A miniszteri rendelet (ministerial decree) is issued by a minister to regulate or administer a specific area within the scope of a law. At the local level, önkormányzati rendelet (municipal decree) is issued by city or county councils to regulate local affairs within their authorized competence. Rendelete are typically published in an official gazette and become binding on a specified date.

Rendelet derives its authority from higher statutory norms and cannot conflict with or exceed the scope of the laws they implement. They often fill in procedural details, set administrative standards, or regulate practical aspects of governance. They can be amended or repealed by the authority that issued them, or by the legislature, within constitutional limits, and are generally subject to judicial review to ensure legality and constitutionality.

Common areas of regulation include administrative procedures, public order, regulatory standards in sectors such as taxation, environment, health, and local traffic, and building or zoning rules. Rendelet thus play a central role in the practical functioning of government, complementing the higher-level laws by detailing how policies are administered and enforced. The term comes from Latin decretum and is used in various legal traditions to denote regulatory acts.