In legal terms, commencement refers to the starting or beginning of a legal action, process or proceeding. The term is commonly used in the context of the commencement of a statute or law, which refers to the date when the statute comes into force or effect.
The commencement of a statute is an important legal concept, as it determines the date from which the statute is applicable and enforceable. The commencement date is usually specified in the text of the statute itself or in a separate commencement order issued by the relevant government authority.
The date of commencement may be different for different provisions of the statute. For example, some provisions may come into effect immediately upon the commencement of the statute, while others may have a delayed commencement date or may only come into effect when certain conditions are met.
It is important to determine the commencement date of a statute, as failure to comply with the requirements of the statute from the date of commencement may result in legal consequences, such as fines or other penalties.