Holland and Webb - Learning legal rules - chapter 7 - making sense of statutes

What are the two main types of UK legislation?

Statutes (Acts of Parliament) and Statutory Instruments (SIs).

What is a statute?

An Act of Parliament; legislation passed by Parliament.

What is a Statutory Instrument (SI)?

A form of delegated legislation made using powers granted by an Act of Parliament.

What is the structure of a statute?

Title → Main divisions (Parts) → Subdivisions (Chapters) → Sections → Subsections → Paragraphs.

What does s. stand for?

Section.

What does s. 1 mean?

Section 1 of an Act.

What does s. 1(1) mean?

Section 1, subsection 1.

What does s. 1(1)(a) mean?

Section 1, subsection 1, paragraph (a).

What does sch. stand for?

Schedule.

What is a schedule in a statute?

Additional material attached to an Act, organised into paragraphs and sub-paragraphs.

What does sch. 1, para. 1 mean?

Schedule 1, paragraph 1.

What does sch. 1, para. 1(a) mean?

Schedule 1, paragraph 1, sub-paragraph (a).

How are Statutory Instruments organised?

Into Regulations (reg.) or Rules (r.), followed by paragraphs and sub-paragraphs.

What does reg. stand for?

Regulation.

What does r. stand for?

Rule.

What does reg. 1(1) mean?

Regulation 1, paragraph (1).

What does reg. 1(1)(a) mean?

Regulation 1, paragraph (1), sub-paragraph (a).

Can Statutory Instruments have different titles?

Yes. They can be called Orders or Regulations, but both use the same citation system.

What does SI 2006/246 mean?

A Statutory Instrument made in 2006, with the identifying number 246.