enacting

Enacting is the present participle of the verb enact, and in general usage it refers to the act of putting something into effect. The term has two broad senses: the formal process by which laws or policies are made effective, and the act of performing or dramatizing a sequence of actions or a role.

In law and public policy, enacting refers to the process by which a proposal becomes law or a policy is implemented. In legislative systems, enacting a law typically includes introduction of a bill, committee review, debates, several readings or votes, and approval by an executive authority, followed by promulgation. Procedures vary by jurisdiction; some require passage by both houses of a bicameral legislature, others permit unicameral passage, and some require additional steps such as referenda or constitutional approval. The term enacting clause is used in many jurisdictions to declare that the statute, once enacted, shall have legal force.

In administrative contexts, governments may enact regulations or orders to implement statutes. Regulatory bodies draft rules, conduct consultations, and finalize text that has the force of law within defined areas.

In the arts, to enact a scene means to perform or portray it, translating a script into action. This sense emphasizes interpretation and embodiment by performers rather than legal effect.

Etymology: enacting derives from en- plus act, from Latin actus through Old French and Middle English; the sense of making effective is central to the term in most contemporary uses. See also enactment, legislation, regulation, acting.