Foreword to the Fifth EditionPrefaceTable of CasesTable of Legislation1 Legislation as a tool for regulationRegulatory and legislative qualityQuality of legislationPursuing effectiveness2 WordsIntroductionWhat is language?WordsThe meaning of wordsVagueness of wordsAmbiguity of wordsInstability of words3 Syntax and punctuationIntroductionSyntax and grammar in legislative draftingThe significance of syntaxThe legislative sentenceSubject-predicate relationshipElements of the sentenceCoode's analysisSentence problemsProblems with modifiersIncomplete and fused sentencesSubject-verb disagreementProblems with negativesPunctuationFour general rulesThe commaThe semi-colonThe colon and the dashThe full stopParenthesesThe apostropheThe hyphen4 styleStyle and the purposes of legislationPurposes of legislationCommunication of legislationStyle should help communicationTraditional legislative style - is it really a problem?Are short simple Acts the answer?The pursuit of claritySimplicity and precision - a tension and a balanceBeware the allure of abstract wordsSignposts along the way to clarityThe pursuit of clarity - general rulesThe pursuit of clarity - rules for drafting sentencesThe pursuit of clarity - word choiceGeneral rules - commentSix rules instead of twenty-nineStyle and genderGender inclusive grammarAvoid `man' words5 Specific matters of styleSectionsThe provisoNumbering, lettering and indentation practiceMiscellaneous stylistic mattersReferences to datesReferences to numbersReferences to legislationSpellingCapitalsSymbols and abbreviations6 Miscellaneous words and expressionsWords and expressions to avoidabove; belowaforesaid; abovementioned; aforementioned; beforementionedfollowing; foregoing; preceding; succeedinghereby; therebyherein; hereinafter; hereinbefore; hereto; herewith; hitherto; heretoforeIt shall be the duty ofIt shall be lawful for; it shall not be lawful forIt is hereby declared thatThe provisions ofProvided that; providedwhatsoever; wheresoever; whosoever; whomsoeverWords and expressions to use carefullyand; or; nor; and/orany; all; each; everyAs tocomprisedeemLess than; more than; not exceeding; exceedingabove; below; over; underAs the case may beIf anynonenotwithstanding; subject toother; otherwiseshall; may; must; shouldoral; verbalpractical; practicablesamesavesuchthat; whichwhetherunless; exceptwhileExpressions of timeGeneralexistingbefore; after; fromforthwith; as soon as possible; immediately; without delay; without unreasonable delay; as soon as may be; without undue delaybetween; andby; until; tillAt leastclear7 Interpretation ActsIntroductionApplication of interpretation legislationDefinitions of words and expressionsProvisions regarding construction of legislationPowers and dutiesTimeSaving of delegated legislationWhen is an Interpretation Act bad law?8 The drafting process: Part 1IntroductionThe role of a legislative drafterWhen should drafters become involved in legislative proposals?The role of instructing officersBasic equipmentThe five stages of the drafting processStage 1 Understanding1 Drafting instructions2 ConsultationStage 2 Analysis1 Legislative proposals and existing law2 Legislative proposals and special responsibility areas3 Legislative proposals and practicalityStage 3 DesignThe layered structure of legislationThe design of legislation not directly amending in characterThe design of amending legislation9 The drafting process: Part 2Stage 4 Composition and developmentThe composition processThe use of definitionsThe use of purpose provisionsThe use of supplementary aidsThe use of precedents: legal transplantsReferential legislationStage 5 Scrutiny and testing10 Formalities and arrangementIntroductionFormatArrangement in partsPracticeCriteria for arrangement in PartsDangers arising from arrangements in PartsSubdivision of PartsHeadings (other than section headings or marginal notes)PracticeConstructionCross-headingsSection headings and marginal notesPracticeConstructionTable of contentsRecommended order of arrangement11 Preliminary provisionsLong title/introductory textDefinition and functionPracticePreambleConstructionFunctionPracticeEnacting formula or enacting clauseApplicationApplication to circumstances existing at commencementTerritorial applicationExtra-territorial applicationApplication to specific persons and thingsApplication to Crown or to GovernmentPurpose clauses or objectives12 Powers and dutiesIntroductionDrafting statutory powersNecessity for powerStatement of powerWho should be given the power?Exercise of the powerTransfer and revocation of statutory functionsTransfer of functionsRevocationBreach of power or dutyRemedies for breach of statutory dutyPower to delegate executive functionsAgency - the Carltona principlePower to give directionsDirections concerning the performance of statutory functionsPerformance directionsPower to make appointmentsPower to require informationPowers of entry, search and seizureMagistrate may issue entry and search warrantForm and content of entry and search warrantPower to take samplesPowers concerning codes of practiceWho may issue a codeContent of codesConsequences of breach of a code13 Substantive and administrative provisions: Part 1IntroductionStatutory corporations and other bodiesCheck list for legislation establishing corporationsForms relating to statutory bodiesFinancial provisions and accountabilityDissolution of statutory corporations14 Substantive and administrative provisions: Part 2Licensing and registrationCheck list for licensing or registration systemsForms relating to licensing and registrationDisciplinary provisionsGovernment financeIntroductionSupply expenditureStatutory expenditureLegislative provision for expenditureParliamentary controlAppropriation legislationLoan and guarantee legislationTaxationIntroductionCheck list for legislation imposing or empowering a tax or levyForms15 Substantive and administrative provisions: Part 3ValidationValidation of fees, taxes or chargesValidation of unauthorised public expenditureValidation of judicial actsValidation of administrative actsValidation of appointment and irregular consequencesValidation of subordinate legislationImplementation of international conventionsDirect approachIndirect approachPractical pointsTribunalsIntroductionCheck list for legislation establishing and regulating tribunalsForms16 Supplementary provisionsThe delegation of legislative powerGeneral principlesIdentity of delegateSub-delegationConsultation and procedurePublicationParliamentary supervisionDrafting enabling provisions17 Penal provisionsIntroductionJurisdiction of courtsLimited locality jurisdictionAttemptsTime limitsInstitution of prosecutionsAiding, counselling etcGeneral formsDeclaratory formsConditional formsDirectory formsStatement of penaltyParties to offencesVicarious liabilityResponsibility for employees, contractors, agents, etcResponsibility for children and animalsCorporationsMens rea and strict liabilitySpecial defencesAge of accusedWeather or other reasonable causeEmergency actionProtection of health, property, environmentAction beyond control of defendantCourse of business or employmentMistake, accident, act of another and diligenceWarrantyPrecautions and diligenceEvidence by certificateWhere certificate is evidenceFor the admission of evidence, by certificate of a constableWhere certificate is sufficient evidenceWhere certificate is conclusive evidenceCertificatesPower to make regulations as to evidence by certificateAdmissibility of written statementsPresumptionsOnus of proof in relation to exceptionsPunishmentGeneral form for fine and imprisonmentWhere a greater maximum penalty is prescribed for prosecution on indictmentWhere a greater maximum penalty is prescribed for a second offenceWhere a greater maximum penalty is prescribed for a body corporateWhere monetary benefits have accrued to offenderWhere the offence is continuing in natureAmendment of penaltyForfeitureProvisions supplementary to punishmentsSuspension or cancellation of licence and disqualificationOrder to cease carrying on businessOrder to pay prosecution expensesOrder to remedy cause of contraventionOrder to refund amount wrongfully obtainedPayment of compensation for damageInjunctionsFixed penalty systems18 Final provisionsSavings and transitionalIntroductionSavingsTransitionalRepealsCommencementWhere the legislation makes no specific commencement provisionWhere the legislation specifies a commencement dateWhere some person is empowered to specify a commencement dateWhere the Act is to commence upon the occurrence of a stipulated eventMultiple commencement datesConditional commencement datesAlternative commencement datesAutomatic commencement when commencement provision failsTable of commencementDurationExpirySunset and review provisionsShort titleFunctionPracticeCitation by means of short titleSchedulesInterpretation/Definition Schedules19 Amending legislationIntroductionTechniques of amendmentComparison of techniquesDrafting direct amendmentsShort titlesReference to the principal ActReference to the section amendedRecommended scope of amending sectionParenthetic explanatory materialReference to prior amendmentsCaution against referring to line numbersNumbering practiceConsideration of repeal and re-enactmentPunctuationFormsRepeals, deletions and omissionsSubstitutionsInsertions and additionsAmendments in schedule form20 Subordinate legislationIntroductionValidity of subordinate legislationConstruction of subordinate legislationDrafting subordinate legislationParagraphingDefinitionsHeadingsEnacting provisionPreambles and purpose provisionsShort title (citation)CommencementOperationAmendment and repealSignatureConsentsExplanatory note21 Transposition of EU legislationIntroductionThe intricacies of transpositionThe five stages of the transposition process22 Pre- and post-legislative scrutiny: the lifecycle of legislationIntroductionVerificationPre-legislative scrutinyPost-legislative scrutinyThe lifecycle of legislationIndex