Wetstelling

Wetstelling is the act of establishing a law by statute within a jurisdiction. In Dutch-speaking legal contexts, the term refers to the formal process by which a legislative body creates generally applicable, binding rules with normative force.

A wet typically differs from subordinate rules such as regulations or administrative decrees, which derive their authority from a higher legal act. A wet has a higher normative status and is designed to address broad social or public interests. The creation of a wet usually involves a formal, codified procedure and requires assent by the competent legislative or constitutional authorities.

Process to enact a wet generally includes several stages. A draft bill (ontwerp van wet) is prepared, often by the government or by members of parliament. It is debated in committees, possibly amended, and must be approved by the legislature. In systems with two chambers, both chambers must enact the bill. After passage, the bill is promulgated by the head of state and published in the official gazette, after which it enters into force on a date specified in the act or upon publication.

Relation to other instruments: Wetstelling specifically denotes the enactment of statutes, while the broader term wetgeving covers all forms of legislation, including subordinate rules such as verordeningen or besluiten issued under statutory authority. The term is common in legal discourse in the Netherlands and Belgium, though in everyday language wetgeving is often used to refer to legislation in general.

Note: The exact constitutional steps vary by country; the outline above reflects common features of European model systems with formal legislative processes.