“grandfather clause”〈美〉祖父条款

其英文释义如下：

“A grandfather clause is an exemption that allows persons or entities to continue with activities or operations that were approved before the implementation of new rules, regulations, or laws. Such allowances can be permanent, temporary, or instituted with limits.”

1.法律、法规中的不回溯条款或例外条款。新的法律、法规中规定的某些限制，不适用于已经开始的活动，并允许其继续进行。《机动车运输业法》[Motor Carrier Ad]中的“祖父条款”规定，凡在本法通过前已经建立的运输机构可以继续经营。

2.南方一些州的宪法规定，凡1867年前享有选举权的人，或内战时期服役于联邦陆、海军或邦联军队的人，以及上述两类人的合法后裔，不受财产状况和读写能力的限制，一律享有选举权。1915年美国最高法院宣布此项条款为违宪。

在英美法中，“grandfather clause”是指“a clause exempting certain classes of people or things from the requirements of a piece of legislation affecting their previous rights, privileges, or practices.”(“一项使某些类别的人或事物不受其先前权利、特权或做法的立法要求的约束影响的条款。”) 简而言之， 就是指“(某些法律中的)不追溯条款；免追溯条款；保留条款”等。

有些文件也直译为“祖父条款”。

【双语例句】

Currently deployed equipment is not to be affected by this recommendation (a grandfather clause may be granted to currently deployed equipment) daccess-ods.un.org

目前部署的装备不受本建议影响(可允许目前部署的装备适用祖父条款) 。

However, when the Government proposed a grandfather clause to the Bills Committee, it was also naturally my understanding that those benefits not protected by it would be subject to the law.

可是，当政府向条例草案审议委员会建议加入一项不溯既往条款时，我那时自然就以为，不受条例草案保障的福利项目将会受到法律的规限。