Henry VIII clause

English

Etymology

The Statute of Proclamations 1539 which gave King Henry VIII power to legislate by proclamation.

Noun

Henry VIII clause (plural Henry VIII clauses)

1. (Australia, India, New Zealand, United Kingdom) A provision in a bill before Parliament, that enables the Government to amend or the text of the bill once it becomes an Act of Parliament or to repeal the Act using secondary legislation.

References

• Henry VIII clauses, UK Parliament's glossary (accessed 26 January 2017)