The executive branch
sunset provision
A clause ending a law or authority on a set date unless Congress renews it. Used to force periodic review of powers granted in a hurry.
In full
Sunsets appear most often in surveillance, tax, and emergency authorities. They give the next Congress a scheduled chance to reconsider, and they change the default: instead of needing votes to repeal, supporters need votes to continue. In practice, reauthorization frequently arrives attached to must-pass legislation with little separate debate.
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A plain-language explanation for civic education, not legal advice. When in doubt, the official source named above controls.