self-executing

American  

[self-ek-si-kyoo-ting, self-] / ˌsɛlfˈɛk sɪˌkju tɪŋ, ˈsɛlf- /

adjective

1. going into effect immediately without the need of supplementary legislation.

   a self-executing treaty.

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self-executing British  

adjective

1. (of a law, treaty, or clause in a deed or contract, etc) coming into effect automatically at a specified time, no legislation or other action being needed for enforcement

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Etymology

Origin of self-executing

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

self-executing

Yet its authority is not self-executing: It relies on lower courts to implement its decisions, extend their logic, and normalize the resulting excesses.

From Slate ● Jul. 17, 2026

Importantly, the Supreme Court in 1883 declared that the 14th Amendment is “undoubtedly self-executing without any ancillary legislation.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 8, 2024

The ruling declared the green amendment self-executing, meaning it does not depend on additional legislation to go into effect.

From Salon ● Feb. 21, 2023

The government will also review property rights for tokenised assets and explore legalising so-called smart contracts - self-executing transactions whose results depend on pre-programmed inputs.

From Reuters ● Oct. 31, 2022

This is a fine legal quibble, stated for a purpose; but since legal minds disagree upon this point, a caviller might say no law is self-executing; all laws require enforcement.

From History of Woman Suffrage, Volume II by Stanton, Elizabeth Cady