special act
Noun: A special act is a law passed by a legislative body that applies only to a specific, named individual, corporation, or a particular geographic area (like a city or county), rather than to the general public or the entire jurisdiction. It is the opposite of a general law, which applies universally.
A special act is created to address a unique situation or need that is not covered by existing general laws. Its authority is limited to its specified subject. * The state legislature passed a special act to grant a pension to the widow of the war hero. * The city's charter was established by a special act of the state government. * The court ruled that the special act, which applied only to one company, was constitutional because it served a legitimate public purpose.
- Legal Context: In legal and governmental writing, the term is often used in contrast with "general act" or "public act." A key characteristic is its limited, non-universal application.
- The attorney argued that the statute was a special act and therefore required a different procedural standard for passage.
- Historical Context: In some legal systems, especially in historical contexts, special acts were used to incorporate towns, grant land, or resolve individual claims against the government.
- Special legislation (n): This is a broader term often used synonymously with "special act." It refers to laws that target a specific person or locality.
- Private act (n): In some jurisdictions, a law benefiting a private individual or entity is specifically termed a "private act," which is a type of special act.
- Local act (n): A special act that applies only to a particular locality, such as a county or city.
- Private law
- Particular law
- Local law (when applied to a specific area)
- General act
- Public act
- General law
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a legislative act that applies only to a particular person or particular district
