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Oregon ballot measures have this basic format (this particular one is an initiative for a constitutional amendment, but referendums [referenda?] are similar, as are measures for regular legislation):

Whereas, ABC is good and XYZ is bad, and

Whereas, the state government currently promotes XYZ rather than ABC, and

Whereas, the state government should promote good things,

Be it enacted by the people of the State of Oregon,

Article 1, Section 1 of the Oregon Constitution is amended to read,

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.

What is the "whereas" part called?

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    I would call it a preamble lol, this is also listed in the legal definitions linked in the accepted answer.
    – deep64blue
    Commented Oct 17, 2022 at 14:17
  • Could you Post some example more obvious or more useful, if not both? Most obviously, I mean could you Post an example stopping at "ABC is good and XYZ is bad…" and leaving out the rest? Otherwise, is it not clear that your idea is based on, and worth as much as "Lorem ipsum… etc"?
    – Robbie Goodwin
    Commented Oct 17, 2022 at 21:22
  • @RobbieGoodwin only the general format matters; I was just asking what the "whereas" part is called. It doesn't need to be a real[istic] measure.
    – Someone
    Commented Oct 17, 2022 at 22:01
  • Were asking what the "preamble" to a ballot measure is called, or not? In 'What is the "preamble" to a ballot measure called?' what room is there for a "whereas" part? Where is there any room for any measure, real(istic) or not?
    – Robbie Goodwin
    Commented Oct 17, 2022 at 22:25
  • @RobbieGoodwin I was asking "what is the 'preamble' part called," and including a fake ballot measure to demonstrate what I was talking about.
    – Someone
    Commented Oct 17, 2022 at 22:48

1 Answer 1

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These are called recitals.

See:

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  • I suspect you're giving more than is needed. 'Someone' clarified the OQ with "only the general format matters; I was just asking what the "whereas" part is called. It doesn't need to be a real[istic] measure" which seems to side-line your otherwise excellent Answer!
    – Robbie Goodwin
    Commented Oct 17, 2022 at 23:17
  • 2
    @RobbieGoodwin this answer is exactly what I was looking for.
    – Someone
    Commented Mar 7, 2023 at 21:12

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