A moratorium is a delay or suspension of an activity or a law. In a

legal Law is a set of rules that are created and are law enforcement, enforceable by social or governmental institutions to regulate behavior,Robertson, ''Crimes against humanity'', 90. with its precise definition a matter of longstanding debate. ...

context, it may refer to the temporary suspension of a law to allow a legal challenge to be carried out. For example,

animal rights Animal rights is the philosophy according to which many or all sentient animals have moral worth that is independent of their utility for humans, and that their most basic interests—such as avoiding suffering—should be afforded the sa ...

activists and

conservation Conservation is the preservation or efficient use of resources, or the conservation of various quantities under physical laws. Conservation may also refer to: Environment and natural resources * Nature conservation, the protection and managem ...

authorities may request fishing or hunting moratoria to protect

endangered An endangered species is a species that is very likely to become extinct in the near future, either worldwide or in a particular political jurisdiction. Endangered species may be at risk due to factors such as habitat loss, poaching and inva ...

or threatened animal species. These delays, or suspensions, prevent people from hunting or fishing the animals in discussion. Another instance is a delay of legal obligations or payment (''

debt moratorium A debt moratorium is a delay in the payment of debts or obligations. The term is generally used to refer to acts by national governments. Moratory laws are usually passed at times of special political or commercial stress: for instance, on severa ...

''). A legal official can order due to extenuating circumstances, which render one party incapable of paying another.

References

* Legal terminology {{Law-term-stub

See also

References