Rule By Decree - Decrees in Democratic Regimes

Decrees in Democratic Regimes

Some democratic leaders, such as the presidents of Mexico, have the constitutional authority to issue emergency decrees. The President of France may rule by decree in national emergencies, subject to constitutional and other legal limitations, but this power has been used only once, by Charles de Gaulle in 1961 during the Algerian War.

Other modern political concepts, such as the French decrees, Orders in Council in the British Commonwealth and American executive orders are partially based on this notion of decrees, although they are far more limited in scope and generally subject to judicial review.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez was granted executive power by the National Assembly to rule by decree for 18 months in early 2007. He intended to nationalize Venezuela's telecommunications and power industries and end foreign ownership of oil refineries as part of his Bolivarian Revolution.

During the Indian Emergency from 1975 to 1977, Prime Minister Indira Gandhi had laws passed that allowed her to rule by decree.

From September 23 (given actual effect from October 4, after the armed disbanding of the Supreme Soviet) to December 12, 1993, rule by decree (ukases) was imposed in Russia by President Boris Yeltsin, during transition from the Russian Constitution of 1978 (which was modelled after the obsolete Soviet Constitution of 1977) to the current 1993 Constitution