the.com/sunset clause
a law that agrees to die on a schedule, so nobody has to argue about killing it later.
means a provision in legislation or a contract that automatically expires on a set date unless someone actively renews it.
from emerged in american legislative drafting, named for the sun literally setting on the rule's authority; popularized in 1970s regulatory reform efforts and revived hard after the usa patriot act debates.
patriot actcontained sunset clauses, most got renewed anyway
forces reviewmakes lawmakers revisit instead of ignore forever
opposite habitmost laws assume permanence unless repealed