The legislation recommends, but does not require, that women make up at least 40% of the board. The legislation is ___________.
I think there's a perfect word for this, but it eludes me at the moment.
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Indicative (as opposed to definitive)?– Erik KowalCommented Oct 7, 2014 at 3:35
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I think you had it in your title; I'd use "advisory".– brasshatCommented Oct 7, 2014 at 4:01
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It's a recommendation. By the way, is legislation the proper term? The appropriate adjective would be "not obligatory".– rogermueCommented Oct 7, 2014 at 6:06
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1Since both nonbinding and advisory fit, other than this "tip of the tongue" feeling, what eliminates them?– Matt E. ЭлленCommented Oct 7, 2014 at 12:54
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3 Answers
Four possible words come to my mind (all definitions are from Merriam-Webster's Eleventh Collegiate Dictionary):
aspirational adj 1 a : [characteristic of] a strong desire to achieve something high or great b : [related to] an object of such desire
hortative adj giving exhortation [in the sense of "language intended to incite and encourage"] : ADVISORY
precatory adj : expressing a wish
toothless adj 1 : having no teeth 2 a : lacking in sharpness or bite b : lacking in means of enforcement or coercion : INEFFECTUAL
Which option seems most accurate depends on the precise circumstances surrounding the legislation and on how optimistic you happen to be feeling.
answered Sep 29, 2015 at 5:53
As noted by @brasshat, advisory seems to fit your need.
A related term, usually applied to judicial rather than legislative matters is obiter dictum
(law) an observation by a judge on some point of law not directly in issue in the case before him and thus neither requiring his decision nor serving as a precedent, but nevertheless of persuasive authority [Collins]
The term is often shortened to dictum and that is often used in the plural as dicta
The legislation is 'conciliatory', in other words, any recommendation aimed at engendering conciliatory feelings or goodwill, rather than taking on the force of law.
