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.

---

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

---

Etymology

Origin of self-executing

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

self-executing

The justices may also have to decide whether the language of the amendment is "self-executing" - that is, whether it was not necessary for Congress to pass accompanying legislation to give the amendment teeth.

From BBC ● Mar. 4, 2024

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 article similarly notes that Section 3 is "self-executing, operating as an immediate disqualification from office."

From Salon ● Aug. 11, 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

What is the scope of the power of American courts under article VI, clause 2, to lend ear to private claims based on treaty provisions, on the ground that such provisions are self-executing?

From The Constitution of the United States of America: Analysis and Interpretation Annotations of Cases Decided by the Supreme Court of the United States to June 30, 1952 by Edward Samuel Corwin