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In French law, an ordonnance (French: [ɔʁdɔnɑ̃s] , "order") is a statutory instrument issued by the Council of Ministers in an area of law normally reserved for primary legislation enacted by the French Parliament. They function as temporary statutes pending ratification by the Parliament; failing ratification they function as mere executive regulations.
Ordonnances should not be confused with décrets issued by the prime minister (an order-in-council) or president, or with ministerial orders (arrêtés); these are issued either in matters where the Constitution allows primary legislation from the Council or as secondary legislation implementing a statute.
In the French justice system, the word can also refer to a summary ruling made by a single judge for simple cases.