enabling act

British  

noun

1. a legislative act conferring certain specified powers on a person or organization

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Example Sentences

In 1889, President Grover Cleveland signed an enabling act paving the way for the Dakotas, Montana and Washington to become states.

From Washington Times

In 1862, President Abraham Lincoln signed an enabling act paving the way for Virginia’s western counties to become the state of West Virginia, which took place in June 1863.

From Washington Times

A few weeks later, he used the pretext of the arson of the Reichstag to pass an enabling act that in effect replaced the constitution.

From New York Times

The legal argument behind the transfer movement begins with the "enabling acts" that created most states from territories in the West.

From Los Angeles Times

The congressional enabling acts that created the individual states all contained language that called for the federal government to transfer title to the land from the federal government to the states. 

From Forbes