DECREE, in earlier form Decreet, an authoritative decision having in some places the force of law; also the judgment of a court of justice. In Roman law, a decree (decretum) was the decision of the emperor, as the supreme judicial officer, settling a case which had been referred to him. In ecclesiastical law the term was given to a decision of an ecclesiastical council settling a doubtful point of doctrine or discipline (cf. also DECRETALS) . In English law decree was more particularly the judgment of a court of equity, but since the Judicature acts the expression "judgment" (q.v.) is employed in reference to the decisions of all the divisions of the supreme court. A "decree nisi," now "order nisi," is the conditional order for a dissolution of marriage made by the divorce court (see DIVORCE). Decreet arbitral is a Scottish phrase for the award of an arbitrator. In some foreign countries, e.g. in Spain, royal decrees may amount to legislation, while in some the subsequent ratification by the legislature is required. In the United States, a decree is the judgment given in courts of admiralty and equity. In addition to the decree nisi, courts of equity sometimes issue decrees of nullity, for annul ment of marriages.