Delegated Legislation Flashcards
What are the reasons for delegated legislation?
It saves tim, quick to amend, can be dealt with by people who are aware of local issues, allows legislation to be updated to reflect changing standards
Who are statutory instruments made by?
Government ministers and their departments
Who does statutory instruments have an effect on?
They have national effect
How can statutory instruments be introduced?
Through negative, affirmative or super affirmative resolutions; made by ministers acting under powers in the legislative and regulatory reform act 2006.
What are legislative reform orders? (SI)
Instruments which remove any burden directly or indirectly resulting from legislation. Example of LRO is legislative reform order 2011.
Who are bylaws made by?
Either local authorities or public cooperations
Who do bylaws effect?
The effect locals are are restricted to the provision of a pub live corporation service
What are the characteristics of bylaws?
Local bylaws effect matters concerning locals (parking, alcohol consumption outside, dogs fouling footpaths)
Public cooperation matters may cover smoking on trains
Bylaws have to be approved by relevant government departments
What is an example of a bylaw?
The local government act 1972 gives local authorities wide powers to make bylaws (south west trains ltd railway bylaws)
Who are orders in council made by?
They are made by the queen and privy council.
Who does orders in council have effect on?
National or local effect or specific to the activity aimed at
What are the characteristics of orders in council?
Usually drafter by government ministers then approved by queen and 3 privy councillors.
Can still be used for emergencies,emergency powers act 1920 and civil contingencies act 2004
What are the advantages of delegated legislation?
- saves time- quicker to pass and amend
- policy not detail- DL takes care of detailed law making
- fast-allows quick response in emergency
- expertise- specific local knowledge
- controls- to avoid abuse of power
- to deal with legislation when parliament is not sitting
What are the disadvantages of DL?
- parliament lacks time to properly scrutinise DL, opportunity for public objection is lost
- DL can be left to junior ministers, civil servants, people who are not accountable to parliament
- 3000(approx) passed each year, hard to keep up with
- DL not publicised as widely as primary legislation
- sub-delegation means some DL is not democratic as is not made by elected bodies
What is the law commission?
The main law reform body set up in 1965 by law commissions act.
Who is the law commission made up of?
The full time body consists of a chairman, who is a high court judge; and four other law commissioners.
Who assists in drafting a new bill?
They get assistance from support staff and four parliamentary draftsmen. They consider areas of law they believe to be in need of reform to keep the law under constant review.
What is a statutes law repeal bill?
Where law commission consider proposals for repeal. Some of these statutes may be considered irrelevant because they are outdated.
Law repeals act 1995 repealed 223 whole acts/orders
A main role of the law commission is to consolidate the law. What is the aim of consolidation?
It draws together specific areas of law where there may be more than one statute. For example the criminal justice contains large amounts on sentencing. Designed to make law more accessible.
Another role of the law commission was section 3 of the law commissions act. What was this and why did it fail?
S3 of the law commission act was codifications, designed to bring together all law on one topic i.e. criminal law, family law. Failed as it needed to be interpreted so would be just as uncertain as existing common law. Now focus on codifying small areas
What is the success of the law commission?
During its first 10 years 85% of proposals were enacted
Next 10 years 50% were successful- lack of parliamentary time
Recently improved
Still reports awaiting from 1991
Recent reform fraud act 2006
What is the affirmation resolution procedure?
Requires some statutory instruments to be voted on by parliament.
Essentially this procedure requires the SI to have approval from both Houses of Parliament
What is the negative resolution procedure?
Most statutory instruments become law, unless a debate is requested by a member of parliament. Parliamentary members have 40 days to object to the SI and request a debate.
What is a super affirmation resolution?
It is used to regulate legislation reform orders made under LRRA 2006- following the affirmation resolution procedure the minister must consider any recommendations.
