decretos

Decretos are formal orders issued by a government authority that have the force of law, though they are distinct from statutes enacted by a legislature. The word comes from Latin decretum, meaning a formal decision. In many civil-law countries, decrees regulate the implementation of laws, establish administrative rules, or address urgent matters that require immediate action. They are typically issued by the head of state, the head of government, or a minister, and are published in an official gazette to take effect.

Decrees can be ordinary regulatory instruments or special measures such as decree-laws or emergency decrees in some jurisdictions. In Spain, for example, the government may issue a decreto-ley with provisional legal force until Parliament approves or rejects it; ordinary decretos implement or administer laws. In Portugal and Latin American countries that use a similar legal vocabulary, decrees commonly regulate public administration, public finances, or state powers and may require later validation by the legislature.

Checks and balances limit decrees. They are typically subject to constitutional review by courts and may be revoked or amended by subsequent legislation or by the issuing authority. The balance between expediency and democratic legitimacy shapes how decrees are used in different systems.

Decretos play a central role in many legal systems by translating statutes into concrete rules and actions, enabling timely governance while resting on constitutional safeguards.