viðbótargreinar

Viðbótargreinar are supplementary articles appended to a document to provide additional provisions. The term comes from viðbót, meaning addition or supplement, and grein, meaning article or clause. They are used to expand, clarify, or adapt the original text without rewriting the entire document. In legal drafting, viðbótargreinar can appear in treaties, contracts, statutes, or administrative manuals to address issues that were not foreseen when the main text was drafted.

Structure and use cases: Viðbótargreinar are typically labeled as separate articles or sections and may be numbered distinctly (for example Article 12a or Article 15bis). They can cover transitional arrangements, technical specifications, procedural rules, or clarified interpretations. They often function alongside the existing provisions and may interact with existing clauses to ensure coherence.

Relation to amendments and addenda: Unlike formal amendments that modify existing provisions, viðbótargreinar add new provisions and may coexist with the original text. Whether they take effect depends on the governing framework; in many cases, their adoption requires consent, ratification, or signature. They may be similar in purpose to addenda (viðauki) or annexes, but are framed as an additional article within the main sequence of clauses.

Examples: In a bilateral agreement, a viðbótargrein might establish a new dispute resolution mechanism. In a contract, it could specify a revised payment schedule. In a constitutional or policy context, it could introduce transitional provisions or technical standards.

See also: viðauki, grein, samningur, laga texti.