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United Kingdom's

Constitution of 1215 with

Amendments through 2013Subsequently amended

https://www.constituteproject.org/ontology/United_Kingdom_of_Great_Britain_and_Northern_Ireland__the?lang=en

constituteproject.org PDF generated: 16 May 2018, 18:35

Page 2United Kingdom 1215 (rev. 2013)

Table of contents

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43Magna Carta 1297

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43I. Confirmation of Liberties

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43IX. Liberties of London, &c;

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43XXIX. Imprisonment, &c.; contrary to Law. Administration of Justice

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44Closing Text: General Saving. Observance of these Liberties. Subsidy, in respect of this Charterand Charter of the Forest

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45The Petition of Right 1628

. 45I. Reciting that by (25) 34 Ed. I. st. 4. c. 1, by Authority of Parliament holden 25 Ed. III. and byother Laws of this Realm, the Kings Subjects should not be taxed but by Consent in Parliament

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45II. and that Commissions have of late issued on which Proceedings have been had contrary toLaw

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45III. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45IV. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46V. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46VI. and that Soldiers have been dispersed in divers Counties, and Inhabitants compelled toreceive them

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46VII. 25 E. III. and that Commissions have issued under the Great Seal for Proceedings accordingto Martial Law

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47VIII. The Petition

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47Habeas Corpus Act 1679

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48

I. Sheriff, &c.; within Three Days after Service of Habeas Corpus, with the Exception of Treasonand Felony, as and under the Regulations herein mentioned, to bring up the Body before theCourt to which the Writ is returnable; and certify the true Causes of Imprisonment. Exceptionsin respect of Distance

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49

II. How Writs to be marked. Persons committed, except for Treason and Felony, &c.; mayappeal to the Lord Chancellor, &c.; Proceedings thereon. Habeas Corpus may be awarded; andupon Service thereof the Officer to bring up the Prisoners as before mentioned; and thereuponwithin Two Days Lord Chancellor, &c.; may discharge upon Recognizance; and certify the Writwith the Return and Recognizance. Proviso for Process not bailable

. . 50III. Habeas Corpus not granted in Vacation to Prisoners who have neglected to pray the same

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50

IV. Officer neglecting, &c.; to make the said Returnes, &c.; or upon Demand to deliver a Copy ofWarrant of Commitment; First Offence, Penalty 100. Second Offence, 200 and Incapacity.Judgment at Suit of Party sufficient Conviction

. . 50V. Proviso as to Imprisonment of Party after having been set at large upon Habeas Corpus.Unduly recommitting such discharged Persons or assisting therein; Penalty to the Party 500

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51VI. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51VII. Proviso respecting Persons charged in Debt, &c;

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51VIII. Persons committed for criminal Matter not to be removed but by Habeas Corpus or otherlegal Writ. Unduly making out, &c.; Warrant for Removal; Penalty

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51IX. Proviso for Application for and granting Habeas Corpus in Vacation-time. Lord Chancellor,&c.; unduly denying Writ; Penalty to Party 500

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52X. Habeas Corpus may be directed into Counties Palatine, &c;



. . . . 52

XI. No subject to be sent Prisoner into Scotland, &c.; or any Parts beyond the Seas. Persons soimprisoned may maintain Action against the Person committing or otherwise acting in respectthereof, as herein mentioned; Treble Costs and Damages; and the Person so committing oracting disabled from Office, and incur Premunire 16 R. 11. c. 5. and be incapable of Pardon

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52XII. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52XIII. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53XIV. [Repealed]

. . . . 53XV. Proviso for sending Persons to be tried in Places where any Capital Offence committed

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53XVI. Limitation of Prosecution for Offences against this Act

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53XVII. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53XVIII. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53XIX. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53XX. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53Bill of Rights 1689

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Heading 1: The Heads of Declaration of Lords and Commons, recited

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Heading 2: Dispensing and Suspending Power

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Heading 3: Committing Prelates

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Heading 4: Ecclesiastical Commission

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Heading 5: Levying Money

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Heading 6: Standing Army

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Heading 7: Disarming Protestants, &c;

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Heading 8: Violating Elections

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54Heading 9: Illegal Prosecutions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55Heading 10: Juries

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55Heading 11: Excessive Bail

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55Heading 12: Fines

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55Heading 13: Punishments

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55Heading 14: Grants of Fines, &c.; before Conviction, &c;

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55

Heading 15: Recital that the late King James II. had abdicated the Government, and that theThrone was vacant, and that the Prince of Orange had written Letters to the Lords andCommons for the choosing Representatives in Parliament

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Heading 16: The Subjects Rights

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Heading 17: Dispensing Power

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Heading 18: Late dispensing Power

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Heading 19: Ecclesiastical Courts illegal

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Heading 20: Levying Money

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56Heading 21: Right to petition

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Heading 22: Standing Army

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Heading 23: Subjects Arms

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Heading 24: Freedom of Election



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Heading 25: Freedom of Speech

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Heading 26: Excessive Bail

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Heading 27: Juries

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Heading 28: Grants of Forfeitures

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Heading 29: Frequent Parliaments

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57Heading 30: The said Rights claimed. Tender of the Crown. Regal Power exercised. Limitationof the Crown

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58Heading 31: New Oaths of Allegiance, &c;

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58Heading 32: Allegiance

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58Heading 33: Supremacy

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59

Heading 34: Acceptance of the Crown. The Two Houses to sit. Subjects Liberties to beallowed, and Ministers hereafter to serve according to the same. William and Mary declaredKing and Queen. Limitation of the Crown. Papists debarred the Crown. Every King, &c.; shallmake the Declaration of 30 Car. II. If under 12 Years old, to be done after Attainment thereof.Kings and Queens Assent

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61II. Non obstantes made void

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61III. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61Act of Settlement 1701

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62

I. Recital of Stat. 1 W. & M. Sess. 2. c. 2. 2. and that the late Queen and Duke of Gloucester aredead; and that His Majesty had recommended from the Throne a further Provision for theSuccession of the Crown in the Protestant Line. The Princess Sophia, Electress and DuchessDowager of Hanover, Daughter of the late Queen of Bohemia, Daughter of King James theFirst, to inherit after the King and the Princess Anne, in Default of Issue of the said Princess andHis Majesty, respectively and the Heirs of her Body, being Protestants

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

II. The Persons inheritable by this Act, holding Communion with the Church of Rome,incapacitated as by the former Act; to take the Oath at their Coronation, according to Stat. 1W. & M. c. 6

. . . . . . . . . 64III. Further Provisions for securing the Religion, Laws, and Liberties of these Realms

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64IV. The Laws and Statutes of the Realm confirmed

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64Union with Scotland Act 1706

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65Preamble: Recital of Articles of Union, dated 22d July, 5 Ann.; and of an Act of Parliamentpassed in Scotland, 16th January, 5 Ann

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65Article I: The Kingdoms United; Ensigns Armorial

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66Article II: Succession to the Monarchy

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66Article III: Parliament

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66Article IIII: Trade and Navigation and other Rights

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66Article VI: Regulations of Trade, Duties, &c;

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66Article VII: Excise

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Article XVI: Coin

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67Article XVIII: Laws concerning public rights. Private rights

. . . . . 68Article XIX: Court of Session. Writers to the Signet admitted Lords of Session. Court ofJusticiary. Other Courts. Causes in Scotland not cognizable in Courts in Westminster Hall

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68Article XX: Heritable Offices, &c;



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68Article XXI: Royal Burghs

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69Article XXIII: Privileges of the Sixteen Peers of Scotland

. . . 69Article XXIV: Heraldry; Great Seal; Seal kept in Scotland; Privy Seal, &c.; in Scotland; Regalia

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69I. Laws inconsistent with the Articles, void

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70

II. Acts of Scotland herein mentioned, confirmed; Universities and colleges of Saint Andrew,Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, to continue; Subjects not liable to Oath, Test, orSubscription, inconsistant with the Presbyterian Church Government; Successor to swear tomaintain the said Settlement of Religion; This Act to be held a fundamental Condition ofUnion, and to be inserted in any Act of Parliament for concluding the said Union; ThisRatification of the said Articles not binding until they are ratified by Parliament of England,&c.; Laws contrary to Articles void.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71III. Cap. 8 ante

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72IV. The said Articles and Act of Parliament of Scotland confirmed

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

V. Cap. 8 ante, and the said Act of Parliament of Scotland to be observed as fundamentalConditions of the said Union; and the said Articles and Acts of Parliament to continue theUnion

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73VI. Recital of Act of Parliament of Scotland for settling Election of the Sixteen Peers andForty-five Members for Scotland

. . . . . . . . . . . 74VII. The said Act declared valid as if it had been Part of the said Articles of Union

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74Union with Ireland Act 1800

. . . . . . . 75Part 1: The Parliaments of England and Ireland have agreed upon the articles following

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75

Article First: That Great Britain and Ireland shall upon Jan. 1, 1801, be united into onekingdom; and that the titles appertaining to the crown, &c.; shall be such as his Majesty shallbe pleased to appoint

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75Article Second: That the succession to the crown shall continue limited and settled as atpresent

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75Article Third: That the United Kingdom be represented in one Parliament

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

1. That such Act as shall be passed in Ireland to regulate the mode of summoning andreturning the lords and commoners to serve in the united Parliament of the United Kingdom,shall be considered as part of the treaty of union

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76

2. That any peer of Ireland may be elected to serve in the House of Commons of the UnitedKingdom, unless previously elected to sit in the House of Lords, but shall not be entitled tothe privilege of peerage, etc

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 763. His Majesty may create peers, and make promotions in the peerage of Ireland after theunion, under certain regulations

. . . . . 77

4. Peerages in abeyance to be deemed existing peerages, and no peerage to be deemedextinct but on default of claim for a year after the death of the late possessor. If a claim beafter that period made and allowed, and a new creation shall have taken place in the interval,no new right of creation shall accrue to his Majesty on the next extinction of a peerage

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77

5. Questions touching the election of members to sit in the House of Commons of the UnitedKingdom on the part of Ireland shall be decided as questions touching such elections in GreatBritain

77

6. When his Majesty shall declare his pleasure for holding a Parliament of the UnitedKingdom, a proclamation shall issue to cause the lords and commons, who are to serve on thepart of Ireland to be returned as shall be provided by any Act of the present session in Ireland



. . . . . . . 78

7. The lords of Parliament on the part of Ireland shall have the same privileges as the lords onthe part of Great Britain, and all lords spiritual of Ireland shall have rank next after the lordsspiritual of the same rank of Great Britain, and shall enjoy the same privileges, (except thosedepending upon sitting in the House of Lords), and the temporal peers of Ireland shall haverank next after the peers of the like rank in Great Britain at the time of the union; and allpeerages of Ireland and of the United Kingdom created after the union shall have rankaccording to creation; and all peerages of Great Britain and of Ireland shall, in all otherrespects, be considered as peerages of the United Kingdom, and the peers of Ireland shallenjoy the same privileges, except those depending upon sitting in the House of Lords

. . . . . . . . . . 78Article Fifth: The churches of England and Ireland to be united into one Protestant EpiscopalChurch, and the doctrine of the Church of Scotland to remain as now established

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

1. The subjects of Great Britain and Ireland shall be on the same footing in respect of tradeand navigation, and in all treaties with foreign powers the subjects of Ireland shall have thesame privileges as British subject

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 792. From January 1, 1801, all prohibitions and bounties on the export of articles the produceor manufacture of either country to the other shall cease

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79

3. All articles the produce or manufacture of either country, not herein-after enumerated assubject to specific duties, shall be imported into each country from the other, duty free, otherthan the countervailing duties in the Schedule No. 1. or to such as shall hereafter be imposedby the united Parliament

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

4. Articles of the produce or manufacture of either country, subject to internal duty, or toduty on the materials, may be subjected on importation into each country to countervailingduties, and upon their export a drawback of the duty shall be allowed

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

5. Articles the produce or manufacture of either country when exported through the other,shall be subject to the same charges as if exported directly from the country of which theywere the produce or manufacture

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

1. All laws in force at the union, and all courts of jurisdiction within the respective kingdoms,shall remain, subject to such alterations as may appear proper to the united Parliament. Allappeals to be finally decided by the peers of the United Kingdom. There shall remain inIreland a Court of Admiralty, and appeals therefrom shall be to the delegates in Chancerythere. All laws contrary to the provisions enacted for carrying these articles into effect to berepealed

. . . . . 81

2. His Majesty having been pleased to approve of the foregoing articles, it is enacted, thatthey shall be the articles of union, and be in force for ever, from Jan. 1, 1801; provided thatbefore that period an Act shall have been passed in Ireland for carrying them into effect

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82

1. Recital of an Act of the Parliament of Ireland to regulate the mode by which the lords andthe commons, to serve in the Parliament of the United Kingdom on the part of Ireland, shall besummoned and returned

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 822. Recited Act to be taken as a part of this Act.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 831. Powers of House of Lords as to Money Bills

. . . . . . . . . 832. Restriction of the powers of the House of Lords as to Bills other than Money Bills

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 843. Certificate of Speaker

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 844. Enacting words

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 845. Provisional Order Bills excluded

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 846. Saving for existing rights and privileges of the House of Commons

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 857. Duration of Parliament

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 858. Short title



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85Life Peerages Act 1958

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 851. Power to create life peerages carrying right to sit in the House of Lords

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 852. Short title

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85European Communities Act 1972

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86Part I: General Provisions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 861. Short title and interpretation

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 892. General implementation of Treaties

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 903. Decisions on, and proof of, Treaties and EU instruments etc

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91Part II: Amendment of Law

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 914. General provision for repeal and amendment

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 925. Customs duties

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 926. The common agricultural policy

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9411. EU offences

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9412. Furnishing of information to EU

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95Senior Courts Act 1981

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95Part I: CONSTITUTION OF Senior Courts

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95Subheading 1: The Senior Courts

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 951. The Senior Courts

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95Subheading 2: The Court of Appeal

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 952. The Court of Appeal

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 963. Divisions of Court of Appeal

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 97Subheading 3: The High Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 974. The High Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 975. Divisions of High Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 986. The Patents, Admiralty and Commercial Courts

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 997. Power to alter Divisions or transfer certain courts to different Divisions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 99Subheading 4: The Crown Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 998. The Crown Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 100Subheading 5: Other provisions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1009. Assistance for transaction of judicial business

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10410. Appointment of judges of Senior Courts

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10611. Tenure of office of judges of Senior Courts

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10612. Salaries etc. of judges of Senior Courts

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10713. Precedence of judges of Senior Courts

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10714. Power of judge of Senior Courts or Crown Court to act in cases relating to rates andtaxes

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108Part II: JURISDICTION

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108Heading 1: The Court of Appeal

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10815. General jurisdiction of Court of Appeal



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10816. Appeals from High Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10917. Applications for new trial

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10918. Restrictions on appeals to Court of Appeal

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110Heading 2: The High Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110Subheading 1: General jurisdiction

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11019. General jurisdiction of High Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110Subheading 2: Admiralty jurisdiction

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11020. Admiralty jurisdiction of High Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11321. Mode of exercise of Admiralty jurisdiction

11422. Restrictions on entertainment of actions in personam in collision and other similar cases

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11523. High Court not to have jurisdiction in cases within Rhine Convention

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11624. Supplementary provisions as to Admiralty jurisdiction

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117Subheading 3: Other particular fields of jurisdiction

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11725. Probate jurisdiction of High Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11726. Matrimonial jurisdiction of High Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11727. Prize jurisdiction of High Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11728. Appeals from Crown Court and inferior courts

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11828A. Proceedings on case stated by magistrates court or Crown Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11829. Mandatory, prohibiting and quashing orders

11930. Injunctions to restrain persons from acting in offices in which they are not entitled to act

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12031. Application for judicial review

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12131A. Transfer of judicial review applications to Upper Tribunal

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 122Subheading 4: Powers

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12232. Orders for interim payment

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12232A. Orders for provisional damages for personal injuries

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12333. Powers of High Court exercisable before commencement of action

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12434. Power of High Court to order disclosure of documents, inspection of property etc. inproceedings for personal injuries or death

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12435. Provisions supplementary to ss. 33 and 34

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12535A. Power of High Court to award interest on debts and damages

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12636. Subpoena issued by High Court to run throughout United Kingdom

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12737. Powers of High Court with respect to injunctions and receivers

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12838. Relief against forfeiture for non-payment of rent

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12839. Execution of instrument by person nominated by High Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12840. Attachment of debts

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12940A. Administrative and clerical expenses of garnishees

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13041. Wards of court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13042. Restriction of vexatious legal proceedings

. . . . . . . . . . . 13143. Power of High Court to vary sentence on application for quashing order



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13243ZA. Power of High Court to vary committal in default

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13343A. Specific powers of arbitrator exercisable by High Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133Subheading 5: Other provisions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13344. Extraordinary functions of judges of High Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 133Heading 3: The Crown Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13345. General jurisdiction of Crown Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13446. Exclusive jurisdiction of Crown Court in trial on indictment

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13446A. Offences committed on ships and abroad

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13447. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13448. Appeals to Crown Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135Heading 4: General Provisions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 135Subheading 1: Law and equity

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13650. Power to award damages as well as, or in substitution for, injunction or specificperformance

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 136Subheading 2: Costs

. . . . . . . . . . . . 13651. Costs in civil division of Court of Appeal, High Court and county courts

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13752. Costs in Crown Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138Part III: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138Heading 1: The Court of Appeal

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138Subheading 1: Distribution of business

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13853. Distribution of business between civil and criminal divisions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139Subheading 2: Composition of court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13954. Court of civil division

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14055. Court of criminal division

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14056. Judges not to sit on appeal from their own judgments, etc

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14156A. Circuit judges not to sit on certain appeals

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14156B. Allocation of cases in criminal division

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 141Subheading 3: Sittings and vacations

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14157. Sittings and vacations


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14258. Calling into question of incidental decisions in civil division

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14259. Form of judgment of court of criminal division

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14260. Rules of court, and decisions of Court of Appeal, as to whether judgment or order is finalor interlocutory

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142Heading 2: The High Court


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14261. Distribution of business among Divisions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14362. Business of Patents, Admiralty and Commercial Courts

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14463. Business assigned to specially nominated judges



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14464. Choice of Division by plaintiff

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14465. Power of transfer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145Subheading 2: Divisional courts

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14566. Divisional courts of High Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145Subheading 3: Mode of conducting business

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14567. Proceedings in court and in chambers

. . . . . . . . . . 14568. Exercise of High Court jurisdiction otherwise than by judges of that court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14669. Trial by jury

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14770. Assessors and scientific advisers

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147Subheading 4: Sittings and vacations

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14771. Sittings and vacations


. . 14872. Withdrawal of privilege against incrimination of self or spouse in certain proceedings

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149Heading 3: The Crown Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 149Subheading 1: Composition of court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14973. General provisions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15074. Appeals and committals for sentence


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15175. Allocation of cases according to composition of court, etc

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15176. Committal for trial: alteration of place of trial

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15277. Committal for trial: date of trial

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152Subheading 3: Sittings

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15278. Sittings


. . . . . . . . . 15379. Practice and procedure in connection with indictable offences and appeals

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15380. Process to compel appearance

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15481. Bail

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15682. Duties of officers of Crown Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15783. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 157Heading 4: Rules of Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15784. Power to make rules of court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15885. The Senior Courts Rule Committee

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15986. The Crown Court Rule Committee

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15986A. Process for making rules of court under section 84

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15986B. Rules to be made if required by Lord Chancellor

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16087. Particular matters for which rules of court may provide

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160Part IV: OFFICERS AND OFFICES

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160Subheading 1: Appointment of certain officers of Senior Courts

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16088. Qualification for office



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16089. Masters and registrars

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16290. Official Solicitor

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16391. Deputies and temporary appointments

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165Subheading 2: Other provisions relating to officers of Senior Courts

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16592. Tenure of office.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16693. Status of officers for purposes of salary and pension

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16694. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16695. Property held by officers

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166Subheading 3: Central Office and Accountant General

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16696. Central Office

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16697. Accountant General

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167Subheading 4: Judges clerks and secretaries

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16798. Judges clerks and secretaries

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 167Subheading 5: District registries and district registrars

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16799. District registries

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168100. District judges

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168101. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168102. Deputy district registrars

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170103. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170Subheading 6: District probate registries

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170104. District probate registries

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170Part V: PROBATE CAUSES AND MATTERS

. . . . . . . 170Subheading 1: Procedure in probate registries in relation to grants of representation

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170105. Applications

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170106. Grants by district probate registrars

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171107. No grant where conflicting applications

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171108. Caveats

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171109. Refusal of grant where capital transfer tax unpaid

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171110. Documents to be delivered to Commissioners of Inland Revenue

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172111. Records of grants

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172Subheading 2: Powers of court in relation to personal representatives

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172112. Summons to executor to prove or renounce

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172113. Power of court to sever grant

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 172114. Number of personal representatives

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173115. Grants to trust corporations

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173116. Power of court to pass over prior claims to grant

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173117. Administration pending suit

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 173118. Effect of appointment of minor as executor

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174119. Administration with will annexed



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174120. Power to require administrators to produce sureties

. . . . . . . 174Subheading 3: Revocation of grants and cancellation of resealing at instance of court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . 174121. Revocation of grants and cancellation of resealing at instance of court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175Subheading 4: Ancillary powers of court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175122. Examination of person with knowledge of testamentary document

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175123. Subpoena to bring in testamentary document

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175Subheading 5: Provisions as to documents

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175124. Place for deposit of original wills and other documents

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175125. Copies of wills and grants

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176126. Depositories for wills of living persons

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176Subheading 6: Probate rules

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176127. Probate rules

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177Subheading 7: Interpretation of Part V and other probate provisions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 177128. Interpretation of Part V and other probate provisions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178Part VI: MISCELLANEOUS AND SUPPLEMENTARY

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178Subheading 1: Miscellaneous provisions

. . . 178129. Lords Commissioners to represent Lord Chancellor when Great Seal in commission

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178130. Fees to be taken in Supreme Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178131. Conveyancing counsel of Senior Courts

. . . . . . 178132. Proof of documents bearing seal or stamp of Senior Courts or any office thereof

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178133. Enrolment and engrossment of instruments

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179134. Powers of attorney deposited before October 1971

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179135. Bonds given under order of court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180136. Production of documents filed in, or in custody of, Senior Courts

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180137. Money paid into court under enactment subsequently repealed

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181138. Effect of writs of execution against goods

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181138A. Sales under executions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181138B. Protection of officer selling goods under execution

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181139. Attachment of National Savings Bank deposits

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181140. Enforcement of fines and forfeited recognizances

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182141. Abolition of certain writs

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182142. Selection of judges for trial of election petitions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182143. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182144. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182145. Amendment of Courts-Martial (Appeals) Act 1968

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183146. Amendment of Courts Act 1971

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184147. Amendment of Solicitors Act 1974

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184148. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184149. [Repealed]



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184Subheading 2: Supplementary

. . . . . 184150. Admiralty jurisdiction: provisions as to Channel Islands, Isle of Man, colonies etc

. . . . 185151. Interpretation of this Act, and rules of construction for other Acts and documents

. . . . . . . . . . . . 187152. Amendments of other Acts, transitional provisions, savings and repeals

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187153. Citation, commencement and extent

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189Northern Ireland Act 1998

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189Part I: Preliminary

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1891. Status of Northern Ireland

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1892. Previous enactments

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1893. Devolution order

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1894. Transferred, excepted and reserved matters

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191Part II: Legislative Powers

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191Subheading 1: General

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1915. Acts of the Northern Ireland Assembly

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1926. Legislative competence

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1937. Entrenched enactments

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1937A. Cross-community support required for Bill altering size of Assembly

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1938. Consent of Secretary of State required in certain cases

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194Subheading 2: Scrutiny and stages of Bills

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1949. Scrutiny by Ministers

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19410. Scrutiny by Presiding Officer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19511. Scrutiny by the Supreme Court

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19512. Reconsideration where reference made to ECJ

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19613. Stages of Bills

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197Subheading 3: Royal Assent

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19714. Submission by Secretary of State

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19815. Parliamentary control where consent given

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198Part III: Executive Authorities

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198Subheading 1: Authorities

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19816A. Appointment of First Minister, deputy First Minister and Northern Ireland Ministersfollowing Assembly election

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19916B. Vacancies in the office of First Minister or deputy First Minister

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20016C. Sections 16A and 16B: supplementary

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20217. Ministerial offices

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20218. Northern Ireland Ministers

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20419. Junior Ministers

. . . 20519A. Disqualification for certain offices which may be held by members of the Assembly

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20520. The Executive Committee

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20621. Northern Ireland departments



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20621A. Northern Ireland department with policing and justice functions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20821B. Section 21A(5A) and (7C): transitional provision

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20921C. Section 21A(5A) and (7C): power of Assembly to secure retention or abolition of deputyMinisterial office

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211Subheading 2: Functions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21122. Statutory functions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21123. Prerogative and executive powers

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21124. EU law, Convention rights etc

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21225. Excepted and reserved matters

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21226. International obligations

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21327. Quotas for purposes of international etc obligations

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21328. Agency arrangements between UK and NI departments

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21328A. Ministerial Code

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215Subheading 3: Power to refer Ministerial decision to Executive Committee

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21528B. Power to refer Ministerial decision to Executive Committee

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216Subheading 4: Executive Committee: further provisions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21628C. Power of Executive Committee to call for witnesses and documents

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21628D. Strategies relating to Irish language and Ulster Scots language etc

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21728E. Strategy relating to poverty, social exclusion etc

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 217Subheading 5: Miscellaneous

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21729. Statutory committees

. . . . . . . . . . . 21929A. Committee to review functioning of Assembly and Executive Committee

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21929B. Review of operation of sections 16A to 16C

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22029C. Review of functions relating to judicial appointments and removals

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22030. Exclusion of Ministers from office

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22230A. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22230B. Secretary of States powers in exceptional circumstances

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222Part IV: The Northern Ireland Assembly

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 222Subheading 1: Elections etc

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22231. Dates of elections and dissolutions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22332. Extraordinary elections

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22333. Constituencies and numbers of members

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22334. Elections and franchise

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22435. Vacancies

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 224Subheading 2: Disqualification

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22436. Disqualification

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22537. Effect of disqualification and provision for relief

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22638. Disqualification: judicial proceedings

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 226Subheading 3: Presiding Officer and Commission



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22639. Presiding Officer

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22740. Commission

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 228Subheading 4: Proceedings etc

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22841. Standing orders

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22842. Petitions of concern

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22843. Members interests

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22944. Power to call for witnesses and documents

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23145. Witnesses and documents: offences

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23146. Witnesses: oaths

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 232Subheading 5: Remuneration and pensions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23247. Remuneration of members

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23347A. Resolutions about reduction of remuneration

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23447B. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23447C. Sections 47A and 47B: specified periods and extensions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23548. Pensions of members


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23549. Letters Patent etc

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23650. Privilege

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23651. Resignation of members

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23651A. Resolutions about reduction of financial assistance

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23751B. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23751C. Sections 51A and 51B: specified periods and extensions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23851D. Censure resolutions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239Part V: NSMC, BIC, BIIC etc

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23952A. North-South Ministerial Council and British-Irish Council

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24052B. Section 52A: duty to attend Council meetings etc

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24152C. Sections 52A and 52B: supplementary

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24252. [Repealed]

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24253. Agreements etc. by persons participating in Councils

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24254. British-Irish Intergovernmental Conference

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24355. Implementation bodies

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24356. Civic Forum

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243Part VI: Financial Provisions

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 243Subheading 1: Consolidated Fund

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24357. Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24458. Payments into the Fund

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24459. Payments out of Fund without appropriation Act

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24560. Financial control, accounts and audit

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246Subheading 2: Advances



. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24661. Advances by Secretary of State

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24662. Accounts


. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24763. Financial acts of the Assembly

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24764. Draft budgets

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24765. Audit

United Kingdom's Constitution of 1215 with Amendments ... · Comparative Constitutions Project, ......

Documents

Transcript of United Kingdom's Constitution of 1215 with Amendments ... · Comparative Constitutions Project, ......