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Promulgation is the formal proclamation or declaration that a new statutory or administrative law is enacted after its final approval.[1] In some jurisdictions, this additional step is necessary before the law can take effect.

After a new law is approved, it is announced to the public through the publication of government gazettes and/or on official government websites. National laws of extraordinary importance to the public may be announced by the head of state on national broadcast. Local laws are usually announced in local newspapers and published in bulletins or compendia of municipal regulations.[citation needed]

Jurisdiction-specific details[edit]


Main article: Law of Armenia



Main article: Law of Belgium

Statutes are promulgated by the King of the Belgians[2] and published in the Belgian Official Journal. Decrees and Ordinances are promulgated by the different Regional and Community governments and published in the Belgian Official Journal.

Canon law (Catholic Church)[edit]

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A canonical law issued by the Pope (or with his consent in the case of laws issued by an ecumenical council or congregation) is promulgated when it is published in Acta Apostolicae Sedis, and by default has the force of law three months after promulgation.[3] Laws issued by bishops and particular councils are promulgated in various ways but by default take effect one month after promulgation.[4]



Main article: Law of France



Main article: Law of Germany

The President of Germany has the duty to duly promulgate and issue laws, unless the President deems them "evidently unconstitutional". The question to what degree they must be convinced of the constitutional violation to deny promulgation is hotly debated.

Hong Kong[edit]

Main article: Law of Hong Kong





Main article: Law of India

If at any time the Indian Parliament is not in session, the President of India may promulgate an ordinance, which will same effect as an Act. However, such ordinance will be presented before the parliament for final approval.[6]

Republic of Ireland[edit]


Isle of Man[edit]

Main article: Manx law

By ancient custom an Act of Tynwald, the legislature of the island, did not come into force until it had been "promulgated" at an open-air sitting of Tynwald, usually held on Tynwald Hill at St John's on St John's Day (24 June) but since the adoption of the Gregorian calendar in 1753[8] on 5 July (or on the following Monday if 5 July is a Saturday or Sunday[9]). Promulgation originally consisted of the reading of the Act in English and Manx, but after 1865 the reading of the title of the Act and a summary of each section were sufficient.[10] This was reduced in 1895 to the titles and a memorandum of the object and purport of the Act,[11] and since 1988 only the short title and a summary of the long title have been read.[12] An emergency procedure enabling an Act to come into force on royal assent being announced at an ordinary sitting of Tynwald, subject to its being promulgated within 12 months, was introduced in 1916;[13] since 1976 this has been the 'default' procedure,[14] and since 1988 an Act ceases to have effect unless promulgated within 18 months after royal assent is announced in Tynwald.[15]


Main article: Law of Italy



Main article: Law of Japan

The Emperor of Japan promulgates laws passed by the Diet. The Emperor cannot refuse to promulgate a law.


Main article: Constitution of Kenya

Promulgation is performed by the President.


Main article: Legal system of Macau



Main article: Law of Malta



Main article: Law of Mexico



Main article: Law of Poland



Main article: Law of Romania



Main article: Law of Sweden



Main article: Law of Turkey


United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms[edit]

Acts of Parliament are promulgated when given royal assent by the Queen. In the United Kingdom, the sovereign may appear personally in the House of Lords or may appoint Lords Commissioners, who announce that royal assent has been granted at a ceremony held at the Palace of Westminster for this purpose. However, royal assent is usually granted less ceremonially by letters patent.

United States[edit]

Acts of Congress are given the force of law, in one of the following ways: signed by the President of the United States; neither signed nor vetoed by the President within ten days from reception (excluding Sundays) while the Congress is in session; or, when both the Senate and the House of Representatives vote, by a two-thirds majority in each chamber, to override a presidential veto during its session.[16] In United States administrative law, a federal regulation may be said to be formally promulgated when it appears in the Federal Register and after the public-comment period concludes.

Amendments to the United States Constitution attain force of law "when ratified by the legislatures of three fourths of the several states, or by conventions in three fourths thereof, as the one or the other mode of ratification may be proposed by the Congress".[17] When the requisite number of state ratifications has been reached (currently 38), it is the duty of the Archivist of the United States to issue a certificate proclaiming a particular amendment duly ratified and part of the Constitution.[18]


  1. ^ "Promulgate Law & Legal Definition". US Legal, Inc. Retrieved October 28, 2015. 
  2. ^ Article 109 of the Belgian Constitution
  3. ^ can. 8 §1, CIC, 1983
  4. ^ can. 8 §2, CIC, 1983
  5. ^ Canon 7, 1983 CIC
  7. ^ Articles 13.3.2° and 25.4.2°
  8. ^ Gregorian Calendar Act 1753 Statutes of the Isle of Man, I, Douglas, 1883, pp. 258–267 
  9. ^ Statutory Time etc. Act 1883 Statutes of the Isle of Man, V, p. 209 
  10. ^ Acts of Tynwald (Promulgation) Act 1865 Statutes of the Isle of Man, III, p. 176 
  11. ^ An Act to further alter the mode of promulgating Acts of Tynwald Statutes of the Isle of Man, VII, p. 1 
  12. ^ Promulgation Act 1988 sections 2, 3 and 5
  13. ^ Acts of Tynwald (Emergency Promulgation) Act 1916 Statutes of the Isle of Man, X, p. 31 
  14. ^ Interpretation Act 1976 section 10
  15. ^ Promulgation Act 1988 section 3
  16. ^ "1 U.S. Code § 106a - Promulgation of laws". Legal Information Institute (LII). Retrieved October 28, 2015. 
  18. ^ Pub.L. 98–497