Legal Definitions - adhere

Adhere means to reject a difference in legislation that has passed both houses of a bicameral legislature, without requesting a conference. This is done by one house of the legislature. It shows that the house is not willing to compromise on their views. The other house can still insist and request a conference. If the adhering house changes its mind, it can agree to a conference.

In Scots law, adhere means to live together as husband and wife. It can also mean that an appellate court affirms a lower court's judgment.

• When the Senate and the House of Representatives cannot agree on a bill, the House can adhere to its version of the bill, without requesting a conference.
• In Scotland, if a man and a woman live together as husband and wife, they are said to adhere to each other.
• If a lower court has made a decision, and the appellate court agrees with that decision, the appellate court can adhere to the lower court's judgment.

These examples illustrate how the term adhere can be used in different contexts. In the first example, it is used in the context of a bicameral legislature. In the second example, it is used in the context of Scots law. In the third example, it is used in the context of a court system.