emergency powers

[ɪˈmɜːrdʒənsi ˈpaʊərz]
nounpl: emergency powers
poderes de emergência
1. Extraordinary governmental powers granted to leaders during crises, allowing them to bypass normal constitutional procedures and legislative processes
The president declared emergency powers during the natural disaster to expedite relief efforts.
O presidente declarou poderes de emergência durante o desastre natural para acelerar os esforços de alívio.
2. Legal authority to take swift executive action without standard democratic oversight during urgent situations
Emergency powers were invoked to implement quarantine measures during the pandemic.
Poderes de emergência foram invocados para implementar medidas de quarentena durante a pandemia.
The concept of emergency powers is significant in both Brazilian and American political systems. In Brazil, such powers are regulated by the Constitution (1988), particularly regarding states of emergency (estado de emergência) and siege (estado de sítio). In the United States, emergency powers involve executive orders and are subject to congressional oversight. Both systems attempt to balance urgent governmental action with constitutional safeguards, though this balance remains a subject of political debate.
Synonyms / Sinônimos
emergency authorityextraordinary powersexecutive emergency powerscrisis powersspecial powers
Antonyms / Antônimos
constitutional limitsnormal governancedemocratic procedureslegislative oversight

Regional Variations

General Brazilian
poderes de emergência
Standard term used in Brazilian Portuguese legal and political discourse
São Paulo
poderes extraordinários
Alternative term sometimes used in formal government documents
Portugal
poderes de emergência / poderes especiais
Portuguese uses similar terminology; 'poderes especiais' also common in constitutional contexts

Related Words

martial lawstate of emergencyexecutive orderconstitutional authoritygovernment decree

Related Idioms & Phrases

invoke emergency powers
grant emergency powers
suspend under emergency powers
declare a state of emergency
emergency powers expire
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