Prior to 1763 many of the clergy's edicts had been ignored by the larger society, while the political power of the bishop had been inconsequential compared with that of the governor and intendant; the latter two officials often circumscribed church authority in matters such as relations with the Indians.
A 1996 federal law, the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act, sharply circumscribed the authority of federal courts to review state-court criminal convictions, limiting their jurisdiction to those state-court proceedings that "resulted in a decision that was contrary to, or involved an unreasonable application of, clearly established federal law".
Even if Mr. Maliki does hold on to power, many Shiite politicians believe there will be an attempt to circumscribe his authority and give greater power to his cabinet.
The present secretary, Ken Salazar, performed admirably despite formidable obstacles, including a Republican House that shortchanged his budget and tried to circumscribe his authority, and the BP oil spill, which consumed his energies for months.
Even if Mr. Maliki does hold on to power, many Shiite politicians believe there will be an attempt to circumscribe his authority and give greater power to his cabinet, whose positions will be divided among the winners.
The Su preme Court's federalism revolution five years of decisions circumscribing Congressional authority ever more tightly -- arrived this morning at a moment of truth as the justices considered the power of Congress to enforce the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection.
To control larger nations, corporations have convinced/bribed/bludgeoned governments to put in place rules that severely circumscribe their authority to express the will of their people.
This document, which has the force of law, not only gives academics direct control over matters of academic policy, it also explicitly circumscribes the authority of the university President, the Board of Directors and even the High Board chaired by President Nazarbayev himself.
Headmen of villages (muban) are also elected, but their authority is circumscribed by centrally appointed district officers and the tambon administrative organizations.
The federal government operates several trust funds that circumscribe the spending authority of different programs.
