Implementation or support of primary text through an additional legal document. For instance, if a primary text in the form of a law creates a food authority with certain powers and responsibilities, a regulation would manifest the exercise of those powers with direct application to specific circumstances.
Example: Standards, rules and regulations, decrees, guidelines.
Other terms with the same meaning and function: Subordinate or subsidiary legislation.
See also executive, ministry, minister, regulatory agency, standards, executive, decree, guidelines in the primer on public law and regulation. Compare and contrast primary texts and legislature.
Heavily adapted from Bryan A. Garner (eds), Black’s law Dictionary, 11th ed., 2019, West Group, ISBN: 978-1539229759