Sunsets and Emergencies: Temporary Covid Laws in Israel

Abstract

This study explores the relationship between temporary legislation – statutes enacted for a limited time and are set to expire unless their validity is actively extended – and emergencies, focusing on a study of temporary legislation during COVID-19 in Israel. It offers both an empirical analysis – examining whether and how the use of temporary legislation changed during the pandemic – and a normative evaluation of this use. The study additionally empirically investigates temporary legislation’s political function of facilitating the passage of bills, examining whether temporary legislation exhibits higher passage rates and faster legislative processes compared to permanent legislation.

Keywords: temporary legislation; sunset; COVID-19; coronavirus; corona; emergency; crisis; political function of sunsets; Israel