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LGST 553: Legislative Drafting Processes and Limits (Rev. 4) Report a Broken Link

Resource Materials

Adoption Information Act 1990, s. 3 (NSW) (Austl.). Objects (i.e., Purpose) section. https://www.austlii.edu.au/cgi-bin/viewdoc/au/legis/nsw/repealed_act/aia1990230/s3.html
African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Ratification and Enforcement) Act (1990), Cap. (10), (Nigeria). Preamble. https://web.archive.org/web/20120110020134/http://www.nigeria-law.org/African%20Charter%20on%20Human%20and%20Peoples'%20Rights.htm#Preamble
Australia Cabinet Office. (1994). Government notice on the preparation of drafting instructions. In Cabinet handbook (4th ed.). Australian Government Publication Service.
Australia Cabinet Office. (1994). Guidelines for writing cabinet submissions. In Cabinet handbook (4th ed.). Australian Government Publication Service.
Australia Cabinet Office. (1994). Guidelines on preparation and presentation of legislation. In Cabinet handbook (4th ed.). Australian Government Publication Service.
Department of Social Services.(2025, January 2). Readers guide. In Social Security Guide (Version 1.324). Australian Government. https://guides.dss.gov.au/social-security-guide
Fisheries Management Act 1991 (Cth) (Austl.). Commencement provisions. https://classic.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/fma1991193/s2.html
Patchett, K. (2014). Examples of executive instruments. In Course materials on legislative drafting. Commonwealth of Learning. https://oasis.col.org/entities/publication/72b2efae-7883-44da-89ff-75226c052dd0
Patchett, K. (2014). Second-Hand Dealers Act 1992. In Course materials on legislative drafting. Commonwealth of Learning. https://oasis.col.org/entities/publication/72b2efae-7883-44da-89ff-75226c052dd0
Welsh Language Act 1967, c. 66 (UK). Preamble. https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1967/66/contents
Example of Subsidiary Legislation
Province of Ontario. (2018). Ontario Regulation 474/18. Ontario Gazette, 151(48), 4319. https://www.ontario.ca/document/ontario-gazette-volume-151-issue-48-december-1-2018
Example of Subsidiary Legislative Instrument
Minister of Animal Affairs. Animals (Custody)(Amendment) Regulations 1992. Legal Notice 200.
Implementing a Fundamental Freedom
Peaceful Assembly Act 1992 (Qld) (Austl.). https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/view/html/inforce/current/act-1992-038
Interpretation Provisions and Definitions
Race Relations Act 1976, c. 74 (UK). https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1976/74/enacted
Interpretation Provisions and Roadmap
Road Traffic Act 1988, c. 52, s. 161 (UK). https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1988/52/section/161
Layout of a Short Act
Deer Export Charge Act 1992 (Cth) (Austl.). https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A04322/latest/text
Legislative Structure and Preliminary Provisions
Smokefree Environments and Regulated Products Act 1990 (N.Z.). https://www.legislation.govt.nz/act/public/1990/0108/latest/DLM223191.html
Model Act
Patchett, K. (2014). Interpretation Act 1992. In Course materials on legislative drafting. Commonwealth of Learning. https://oasis.col.org/entities/publication/72b2efae-7883-44da-89ff-75226c052dd0
Model Legislative Plan
Legislative Instruments Bill 1994 (Cth) (Austl.). https://henley.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/bill/lib1994302.pdf

Supplementary Readings

Borrows, J., Chartrand, L., Fitzgerald, O. E., & Schwartz, R., eds. (2023). Braiding legal orders: Implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. McGill–Queen’s University Press.
Carter, R. (2018). “You are always on my mind”: Law drafting for human rights (in)consistency. The Loophole (3), 35–89. https://calc.ngo/sites/default/files/loophole/Loophole%20-%202018-03%20%282018-09-26%29-revised.pdf
Dedelli, G. (2021). Legislative drafting in statutory interpretation: A plea for recognition. The Loophole (1), 32–49. https://www.calc.ngo/sites/default/files/loophole/Loophole%20-%202021-01%20%282021-03-08%29.pdf
Engle, G. (1983). “Bills are made to pass as razors are made to sell”: Practical constraints in the preparation of legislation. Statute Law Review, 4(2), 7–23. https://doi.org/10.1093/slr/4.2.7
Keyes, J. M. (2008, October 25). Legislative services offices and the roles of legislative counsel. Department of Justice, Canada.
Lepofsky, D. (2008). Building accessibility for people with disabilities into our legislation: Avoiding the creation of unintended barriers [Video]. Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice. https://ciaj-icaj.ca/en/videos/building-accessibility-for-people-with-disabilities-into-our-legislation-avoiding-the-creation-of-unintended-barriers-speakers-david-lepofsky-3607
Lepofsky, M. D., & Graham, R. N. M. (2008). Universal design in legislative drafting: How to ensure legislation is barrier-free for people with disabilities. Canadian Institute for the Administration of Justice. https://ciaj-icaj.ca/wp-content/uploads/documents/import/2008/Lepofsky-Graham.pdf?id=1160&1696881468
Office of Parliamentary Counsel. (2022, July). OPC’s drafting services: A guide for clients (7th ed.). Government of Australia. https://www.opc.gov.au/sites/default/files/2023-01/s13ag320.v55.pdf
Privy Council Office. (2001). Guide to making federal acts and regulations (2nd ed.). Government of Canada. https://www.canada.ca/en/privy-council/services/publications/guide-making-federal-acts-regulations.html
ProceduralInfo. (n.d.). “Legislative Process.” In Our Procedure. House of Commons, Canada. https://www.ourcommons.ca/procedure/our-procedure/LegislativeProcess/c_g_legislativeprocess-e.html
Revell, D. (2016, May 2). Enhancing the legislative process: The value of the legislative drafter [Video]. Vimeo. https://vimeo.com/165097277
Statute Law Society. (2010). Statute law [Podcast series]. University of Oxford. https://podcasts.ox.ac.uk/series/statute-law-making-legislation
Wilson, W. A. (1987). Questions of interpretation. Statute Law Review, 8(3), 142–162. https://doi.org/10.1093/slr/8.3.142

Select Bibliography for Further Consultation

Attorney-General’s Chambers, Legislation Division (Singapore). (2003, April). The legislative drafting manual. Singapore Government.

Drafting Projects

Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, SBC 2019, c 44. https://canlii.ca/t/544c3
Gitxaala v British Columbia (Chief Gold Commissioner), 2023 BCSC 1680 (CanLII). https://canlii.ca/t/k0cbd
United Nations (UN). (2007, September 13). United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). UN. https://www.un.org/development/desa/indigenouspeoples/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2018/11/UNDRIP_E_web.pdf
United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, SC 2021, c 14. https://canlii.ca/t/554bd