What is the &quot;preamble&quot; to a ballot measure called?
<p>Oregon ballot measures have this basic format (this particular one is an initiative for a constitutional amendment, but referendums [referenda?] are similar, as are measures for regular legislation):</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Whereas, ABC is good and XYZ is bad, and</p>
<p>Whereas, the state government currently promotes XYZ rather than ABC, and</p>
<p>Whereas, the state government should promote good things,</p>
<p>Be it enacted by the people of the State of Oregon,</p>
<p>Article 1, Section 1 of the Oregon Constitution is amended to read,</p>
<blockquote>
<p>Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.</p>
</blockquote>
</blockquote>
<p>What is the &quot;whereas&quot; part called?</p>

<p>These are called <em>recitals</em>.</p>
<p>See:</p>
<ul>
<li>Termly legal dictionary: <a href="https://termly.io/legal-dictionary/recital/" rel="noreferrer">recital</a></li>
<li>US Legal: <a href="https://definitions.uslegal.com/r/recitals/" rel="noreferrer">recital</a></li>
<li>Wikipedia: <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Recital_(law)" rel="noreferrer">recital (law)</a></li>
<li>Wiktionary: <a href="https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/recital#Noun" rel="noreferrer">recital, n. 5 (law)</a></li>
</ul>

united-states legal-terms oregon elections