repeal

views updated Jun 08 2018

re·peal / riˈpēl/ • v. [tr.] revoke or annul (a law or congressional act): the legislation was repealed five months later.• n. the action of revoking or annulling a law or congressional act: the House voted in favor of repeal.DERIVATIVES: re·peal·a·ble adj.

Repeal

views updated Jun 08 2018

REPEAL

Theannulmentor abrogation of a previously existing statute by the enactment of a later law that revokes the former law.

The revocation of the law can either be done through an express repeal, whereby a statute specifically indicates that the former law shall be revoked and abrogated, or through an implied repeal, which arises when the later statute contains provisions that are so contrary or irreconcilable with those of the prior law that only one can remain in force.

The repeal of a law differs from the amendment thereof, because the amendment of a law involves making a change in a law that already exists, leaving a portion of the original still standing. When a law is repealed, however, it is completely abrogated.

repeal

views updated Jun 08 2018

repeal vb. XIV. — AN. repeler, for OF. rapeler (mod. rappeler), f. RE- + appeler APPEAL.
So sb. XV. — AN. repel.