or UKASE (Russ., from ukazat, a shortened form of ukazlivat, to show, announce, prescribe), a term applied in Russia to an edict or ordinance, legislative or administrative, having the force of law. A ukaz proceeds either from the emperor or from the senate, which has the power of issuing such ordinances for the purpose of carrying out existing decrees. All such decrees are promulgated by the senate. A difference is drawn between the ukaz signed by the emperor's hand and his verbal ukaz, or order, made upon a report submitted to him. (See RUSSIA: Constitution and Government.)