Legal Definitions - enrolled-bill rule

The enrolled-bill rule is a legal principle that states that once a statute has been formally approved and authenticated, it is considered to be exactly what the legislature intended. This means that no one can challenge the drafting of the bill.

For example, if a bill is passed by the legislature and then signed into law by the governor, it is considered to be final and cannot be challenged on the grounds of its drafting or wording. The courts will not look behind the enrolled bill to determine its validity, except to ensure that the constitutional requirements for passage have been met.

The enrolled-bill rule is designed to provide certainty and finality to the legislative process. It ensures that once a bill has been passed and signed into law, it cannot be challenged or overturned on the basis of minor technicalities or errors in drafting.