1.A.2 - Delegated legislation Flashcards
Define delegated legislation.
Law made by a person or body other than Parliament, but with Parliament’s permission.
What is delegated legislation sometimes called? There are 2 names.
- Secondary legislation
2. Subordinate legislation
How many pieces of delegated legislation are created each year?
Several thousand.
True or False? : Secondary legislation is more common than primary legislation.
True - Several thousand pieces of delegated legislation are passed each year, making them far more common than statutes.
What are the 2 reasons for Parliament granting power to create delegated legislation?
- Saves parliamentary time.
2. Parliament lacks the expertise.
What is an enabling Act?
A statute which grants a person or body the power to create delegated legislation.
What is the other name for an enabling Act?
A parent Act.
An example of an enabling Act is the ________________________. This Act allows local authorities to create by-laws.
Local Government Act 1972
What are the 3 types of delegated legislation?
- Orders in Council
- Statutory Instruments
- By-laws
What are Orders in Council?
Delegated legislation made formally in the name of the Monarch, by the Monarch, upon the advice of the Privy Council.
What is the Privy Council?
The formal body of advisors to the Monarch, composed of senior politicians from across the Commonwealth.
What are the 2 types of Order in Council?
- Statutory Orders
2. Prerogative Orders
What is a Statutory Order?
An Order in Council made using powers vested in the Privy Council by an enabling Act. They are merely a Statutory Instrument subject to greater formalities.
True or False? : Prerogative Orders are the most common type of Order in Council?
False - Statutory Orders are the most common type of Order in Council.
What is a Prerogative Order?
An Order in Council made using the formal, historic prerogative powers vested into the Crown. There is no enabling Act for them.
True or False? : Th whole Privy Council must be present in order for Orders in Council to be made?
False - The Privy Council has hundreds of members, so only a few members sit when Orders in Council are being made?
When does the Privy Council sit in full sitting?
Following the death of the Monarch in order to proclaim the ascension of a new one.
Who presides over meetings of the Privy Council?
The Lord President of the Council.
Who is the current Lord President of the Council?
Andrea Leadsom MP - Leader of the House of Commons and Conservative MP for South Northamptonshire
What happens at a meeting of the Privy Council to make Orders in Council?
The Lord President reads out a list, and after each one the Monarch states the word “agreed”, which brings the Order into effect.
How many uses of Orders in Council are there?
14
What is the 1st use of Orders in Council?
Bringing Acts of Parliament into force.
What is the 2nd use of Orders in Council?
To make specific changes to a part of a statute.
Name an Order in Council which made specific changes to a part of a statute, and explain what it changed.
The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 (Modification) (No.2) Order 2003, which reclassified cannabis as a Class C drug.
What is the 3rd use of Orders in Council?
Bringing European Union directives into force due to the absence of direct applicability.
What is the 4th use of Orders in Council?
Dealing with foreign affairs.
Give an example of an Order in Council which dealt with foreign affairs, and explain what it did.
The Afghanistan (United Nations Sanctions) Order 2001, which made it an offence to make funds available to the Taliban.
What is the 5th use of Orders in Council?
Making laws in emergency situations.
What 2 statutes allow Orders in Council to be used in emergency situations?
- The Emergency Powers Act 1920
2. The Civil Contingencies Act 2004
Give an example of when Orders in Council were used to deal with an emergency situation.
In 2001 Orders in Council were used to try and prevent the spread of the Foot and Mouth crisis.
What can the Monarch do using the Emergency Powers Act 1920?
Declare a state of emergency.
What is the 6th use of Orders in Council?
Transferring powers from Westminster to devolved legislatures.
Give an example of an Order in Council which transferred power from Westminster to a devolved legislature.
National Assembly for Wales (Transfer of Functions) Order 1999, which established the Welsh Assembly.
What is the 8th use of Orders in Council?
Dissolving Parliament prior to a general election.
What is the 9th use of Orders in Council?
Appointing heads of Crown corporations.
What is the 10th use of Orders in Council?
Governing the British Overseas Territories.
What is the 11th use of Orders in Council?
Extending the applicability of British legislation to the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands.
What is the 12th use of Orders in Council?
Making appointments to the Church of England.
What is the 13th use of Orders in Council?
Governing Northern Ireland during times of direct rule.
When were Orders in Council used to govern Northern Ireland during periods of direct rule?
1972-2007
What were the enabling Acts which allowed Statutory Orders in Council to be used to govern Northern Ireland during periods of direct rule?
The Northern Ireland Acts.
What is the 14th use of Orders in Council?
Overturning court rulings.
Give an example of the use of Orders in Council to overturn court rulings.
2004 - Controversially used to overturn a ruling which held that the exile of Chagossians from the British Indian Ocean Territory was unlawful.
What is a Statutory Instrument?
Details rules and regulations made by government ministers within their portfolio.
Around how many Statutory Instruments are made each year?
3,000
What are the most common type of delegated legislation?
Statutory Instruments
True or False? : Statutory Instruments are enforceable in the courts.
True - SIs can be enforced by the courts.
Who creates Statutory Instruments, and who helps them to do this?
Government ministers with the help of civil servants.
Whilst the enabling Act provides the legal framweork surrounding an issue,it is the SIs that fill in the necessary _______ that are too ______ to be incorporated into the statute.
- Details
2. Complex
What is a Legislative Reform Order?
A Statutory Instrument which amends existing primary legislation.
Which Act allows for the creation of Legislative Reform Orders?
The Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006
Why are Legislative Reform Orders controversial?
They allow the indirectly elected executive to amend legislation; it symbolises a shift in law-making power away from the legislature. There is an absence of scrutiny.
Give an example of the use of a Statutory Instrument to update the law.
Changing the National Minimum Wage.
Who changes the National Minimum Wage annually using Statutory Instruments?
The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
Which Act allows the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to change the National Minimum Wage annually using Statutory Instruments?
The National Minimum Wage Act 1998
In which month of the year is the National Minimum Wage annually adjusted using Statutory Instruments?
April
What is a Commencement Order?
A Statutory Instrument used to bring an Act, or part of an Act, into force.
True or False? : There is no time limit on when a Commencement Order must be passed after an Act is passed.
True - As a result of this, some Acts are never brought into force.
Give an example of an Act which has never had a Commencement Order passed, thus has never been brought into force.
The Easter Act 1928
What would the Easter Act 1928 do if brought into force using a Commencement Order?
Create a set date for Easter.
What are by-laws?
Delegated legislation made by local authorities or public bodies relating to their areas of jurisdiction.
Before a by-law is made, what must happen?
They must be advertised so that interested parties are consulted.
In order for a by-law to become enforceable in the courts, what must happen?
They must be approved by the appropriate government minister.