RegelRecht from statute to digital execution
RegelRecht explores how we can deliver transparent, unambiguous and consistent execution of legislation. An exploration of digital possibilities where everyone can understand how decisions are reached.
An initiative of
An initiative of
What is RegelRecht?
Executing legislation comes with several challenges: differing interpretations, opaque systems, and complex programming work that often sits far from the original law. RegelRecht explores whether machine-executable legislation can offer an answer — laws written directly as executable code, without programmers in between.
From analogue law to code
Can we transform traditional legislation into machine-executable specifications? We are investigating whether this can narrow the gap between legislator and execution.
A single source of truth
What if there were one central, machine-executable version of every law that all parties use? We are exploring whether this can reduce differences in interpretation.
Full transparency
How do we make government decisions more transparent? We are experimenting with ways for citizens to see which rules apply and how decisions are reached.
Why this exploration?
The current way laws are applied raises several challenges for the rule of law. We are investigating whether new technical approaches can contribute to solutions for these structural questions.
Differing interpretations
The same law is interpreted and applied differently by different government organisations, leading to inconsistencies and injustice.
Unambiguous application
Could machine-executable laws reduce interpretation problems? We are investigating whether this can lead to more consistent rule application.
Opaque decisions
Citizens receive decisions with no explanation of how they were reached. Government as a black box.
Full traceability
Can we make every decision traceable back to the exact rule that was applied? We are exploring options for more transparency in government decisions.
Unworkable laws
Laws are often written without fully testing whether they are workable in practice. This can cause implementation problems through inconsistencies, ambiguities or practical constraints.
Testing workability
Would machine-executable legislation make it possible to test laws? We are investigating whether inconsistencies and conflicts can be detected early.
From analogue law to a digital legal system
How might the transition from traditional legislation to a digital legal system unfold? We explore seven possible steps and what each could make possible:
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Analogue to digital
Can existing laws be systematically converted from analogue text into machine-executable specifications? A first step to explore a digital foundation.
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Digital legal system
Could new laws be written machine-executable from the start? We explore what that could look like and how we can support it.
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Standardised ecosystem
A national infrastructure where all government systems use the same legal definitions. A single source of truth for rule application.
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Harmonising legislation
It becomes possible to work systematically on harmonising existing legislation. Conflicts and inconsistencies between existing rule sets can be detected automatically, making harmonisation a deliberate choice.
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Workability assessment
New laws can be tested before they take effect. The effect of new legislation on the consistency of the legal system can be analysed during the legislative process.
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Central publication
Machine-executable legislation is published centrally for everyone. Execution engines are made available too, so all parties can run the same laws in an identical way.
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Transparent application
Citizens and businesses can inspect and verify exactly how rules work. Full transparency into rule application.
Ecosystem
NRML language
Normalized Rule Model Language — a JSON-based exchange and storage format for machine-executable laws. NRML makes complex legal logic accessible, supports multilingual rules and has built-in versioning.
Execution engines
Multiple execution engines that run NRML code. Different languages for different use cases — but a consistent legal result.
Analogue-law converter
An LLM-based tool to convert existing analogue law into machine-executable NRML. Automatic transformation of traditional legislation into a digital legal system.
Visual law editor
An intuitive drag-and-drop interface for legal experts to write laws without programming knowledge. From visual logic to executable code.
Dependency mapper
Visualises complex relationships between different laws. Shows how changes to one law propagate through the entire legal ecosystem.
Rule management
Full versioning of machine-executable legislation. Track changes, roll back, and branch different legislative proposals.
Simulation environment
Test the consequences of new legislation before implementation. Model societal impact and predict unintended effects.
Publication platform
Central publication and distribution of machine-executable legislation. API access for all government systems and private parties.
What could this look like?
What could the RegelRecht ecosystem make possible in practice? We explore two directions for transparent rule application and legislative testing.
Personal rules dashboard
What if citizens could see all their benefits, allowances and obligations in one place? Every rule could then be traceable back to the machine-executable legislation, with full transparency about how decisions are reached.
- Real-time rule application — could it make immediate feedback possible?
- Full traceability — can a path be drawn from law to personal situation?
- Proactive communication — can citizens be informed automatically when rules change?
Legislative simulation & testing
What if policy makers could test the consequences of new legislation in a simulation environment before it is introduced? Could this prevent unintended effects and improve the quality of legislation?
- Impact analysis — could we predict the consequences of new regulation?
- Harmonisation check — can we detect conflicts with existing legislation?
- Scenario testing — is it possible to test different policy options?
- Quality control — can inconsistencies be detected before implementation?
Exploration within the 2025 Innovation Budget
RegelRecht contributes to two projects from the 2025 Innovation Budget of the Dutch Digital Government:
Fewer citizens in trouble through machine-readable legislation
How do we prevent the accumulation of laws and regulations from making laws unworkable? This project explores developing an analysis tool to test legislative proposals for workability in conjunction with other laws.
A modern calculation core as a building block for government
Can we develop a general calculation core for government? This project explores how such a system could help execute complex schemes for citizens and businesses, for example when calculating allowances.
Relevant reports and sources
An overview of key reports, research and sources that underpin the need for machine-executable legislation.
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Factsheet on the digital execution of legislation
This WRR factsheet identifies five points of attention and review questions for parliamentary oversight of the digital execution of legislation. The RegelRecht project falls within the scope of this factsheet and can be assessed against the proposed criteria for transparency, traceability and democratic control.
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Factsheet on rule-of-law risks of the digital execution of laws
This factsheet for the House of Representatives’ Standing Committee on Digital Affairs names six rule-of-law risks of digital law execution, including opacity and translation problems between legal text and code, and argues for traceability of algorithms back to their legal source.
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Information management, the stagecoach with an auxiliary motor
Zuurmond observes that current information management supports a bureaucratic, reactive government too strongly based on distrust of citizens. He argues for a responsive government with better information provision.
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Algorithms tested
The Court of Audit tested 9 algorithms at various government organisations and found that 6 of them carried risks around performance management, bias, data leaks or unauthorised access. The report stresses the need for continuous monitoring.
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Attention to algorithms
This first systematic study of algorithm use by the Dutch government found that algorithms focus mainly on government needs, with limited attention to ethical aspects and citizen insight.
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Recommendations on the legislative process and quality
The Council of State stresses the importance of implementation assessments and collaboration between policy makers, legislative lawyers and implementing organisations in multidisciplinary teams, and argues for better testing of workability and citizens’ ability to act.
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Moderate growth — State Commission on Demographic Developments 2050
The State Commission observes that demographic developments put pressure on the accessibility of government services such as education, healthcare and housing.
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Make it happen! — The digital government
The study group concludes that digitising government requires a radical change of mindset and that digital service delivery belongs at the core of the primary process.
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Work on Implementation — Phase 2: Courses of action
This report analyses problems at implementing organisations such as the Tax Administration, DUO and UWV: continuity risks, limited agility when policy changes, and missing options for tailored solutions.
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Open and in order: generic action plan for information management
This action plan was drawn up in response to the 'Unprecedented injustice' report and focuses on structurally improving information management across central government.
Questions about this exploration
What could a digital legal system mean?
A digital legal system could mean that legal rules are written as executable code that computers can run and apply directly, without human interpretation or programmers in between. But is this achievable? And how does it relate to traditional analogue law?
Why NRML and not other rule languages?
NRML stands out through a developer-friendly JSON approach instead of complex XML standards. It serves as a standard exchange and storage format so that different government systems can use the same rule specifications. NRML has built-in test scenarios and versioning.
How could this relate to existing systems?
Could RegelRecht validate existing implementations and serve as a reference for new systems? It would not replace existing systems directly, but it could make verification and modernisation possible.
Could RegelRecht be legally binding?
RegelRecht could be a technical aid. Legal validity would remain with the original legislation. But could it help with consistent interpretation and application?
How does this contribute to transparency?
By making rules explicit in code, citizens and organisations can see exactly how decisions are reached, instead of relying on opaque systems.
What do you think?
This exploration of machine-executable legislation raises many questions. How do you see the future of digital government? What are your concerns and expectations around these developments? Your input helps us shape this exploration further.