Annex C – Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | An Act of Parliament is a law that both Houses of Parliament and the King have agreed to. An Act may be enforced in all the areas of the UK where it is applicable. |
| Bill | A proposal for a new law or an amendment to an existing law that has been presented to Parliament for consideration. Once agreed and made into law, it becomes an Act. |
| Devolved administrations | The governments of the devolved nations of the UK. These are the Scottish Government, the Welsh Government and the Northern Ireland Executive. |
| Devolved competence | The areas in which the devolved legislatures are responsible for making laws ("legislative competence") or the devolved administrations are responsible for governing or making secondary legislation ("executive competence"). |
| Devolved legislatures | The law making bodies of the devolved nations of the UK. These are the Scottish Parliament, the Senedd Cymru and the Northern Ireland Assembly. |
| Made negative procedure |
The made negative procedure is a type of parliamentary procedure that applies to statutory instruments. Its name describes the form of scrutiny that the statutory instrument receives from Parliament. A statutory instrument laid under the made negative procedure becomes law on the day the Minister signs it and automatically remains law unless a motion – or ‘prayer’ – to reject it is agreed by either House within 40 sitting days. Certain SIs on financial matters are only considered by the Commons. |
| Secondary legislation | Legal instruments (including regulations and orders) made under powers delegated to ministers or other office holders in Acts of Parliament. They have the force of law but can be disapplied by a court if they do not comply with the terms of their parent Act or the Human Rights Act. Also called subordinate or delegated legislation. |
| Statutory instrument | A form of secondary legislation to which the Statutory Instruments Act 1946 applies. |
