United Kingdom · Legislation
Legislation and primary sources
Where to find the authoritative text of the law in United Kingdom, and how to confirm it is still in force.
Sources of law, ranked
- Acts of Parliament
- Primary legislation; sovereign and unreviewable for validity.
- Statutory instruments
- Delegated legislation, reviewable for excess of power.
- Case law
- Binding precedent from the Supreme Court downwards.
- Constitutional convention
- Politically binding, judicially unenforceable practice.
- Devolved legislation
- Scottish Parliament, Senedd Cymru, NI Assembly within competence.
The legislative process
First reading, second reading, committee stage, report stage and third reading in each House, then ping-pong on amendments, then Royal Assent.
Found something out of date on United Kingdom · Legislation?
Corrections are reviewed against the primary source before anything changes.