Henry VIII clause

noun

A provision in a bill before Parliament, that if enacted as an Act, would enable the Government to amend (including repeal) the Act or other primary legislation by secondary legislation.

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Meanings

nounHenry VIII clause (plural Henry VIII clauses)

plural Henry VIII clauses

  1. AustraliaIndiaNew ZealandUKA provision in a bill before Parliament, that if enacted as an Act, would enable the Government to amend (including repeal) the Act or other primary legislation by secondary legislation.

Origin

Named after English king Henry VIII, who passed the Statute of Proclamations in 1539 that empowered him to legislate by proclamation.

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Cite this entry
APA

Henry VIII clause. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Henry%20VIII%20clause

MLA

“Henry VIII clause.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Henry%20VIII%20clause. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Henry VIII clause,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Henry%20VIII%20clause.

Source: Henry VIII clause on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.