Statutes
From Nulisbus
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NULIS has a collection of statutes dating back to 1235. They are held in chronological order but in a number of different series: | NULIS has a collection of statutes dating back to 1235. They are held in chronological order but in a number of different series: | ||
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Statutes revised 3rd ed. 1950 includes the text of all statutes (Acts) then in force (but omitting the Acts of the old Scottish Parliament). Statutes (Acts) or parts thereof repealed prior to 1950 are omitted. Scots statutes revised gives the text of all Scots Acts still in force in 1908, by year and chapter no. (for subsequent repeals see the Statute Law Revision (Scotland) Act 1964 c.80 and the legislation citators thereafter). General public acts and measures gives the text of legislation (excluding local and private Acts). Scottish current law and Current law statutes annotated give the text of legislation plus annotations. Note that Scottish current law statutes annotated changed its title to Current law statutes annotated in 1991. Both titles include all public acts introduced in the years covered by these publications. Since 1999, Current Law Statutes have included Acts of the Scottish Parliament. | Statutes revised 3rd ed. 1950 includes the text of all statutes (Acts) then in force (but omitting the Acts of the old Scottish Parliament). Statutes (Acts) or parts thereof repealed prior to 1950 are omitted. Scots statutes revised gives the text of all Scots Acts still in force in 1908, by year and chapter no. (for subsequent repeals see the Statute Law Revision (Scotland) Act 1964 c.80 and the legislation citators thereafter). General public acts and measures gives the text of legislation (excluding local and private Acts). Scottish current law and Current law statutes annotated give the text of legislation plus annotations. Note that Scottish current law statutes annotated changed its title to Current law statutes annotated in 1991. Both titles include all public acts introduced in the years covered by these publications. Since 1999, Current Law Statutes have included Acts of the Scottish Parliament. | ||
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==Finding Acts/Statutes== | ==Finding Acts/Statutes== | ||
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When an Act is entered into the Statute Book it is given a Chapter number. Acts are sometimes cited just by the year and the Chapter no.; e.g. 1986 c38: check Scottish current law statutes annotated for 1986 and find Chapter 38 (c38). It is also possible to cite Acts by their short title which includes the year, e.g. Outer Space Act 1986. It is useful, tho' not strictly necessary, to cite both, e.g. Outer Space Act 1986 (c38). Prior to 1963 it was normal to cite the session of Parliament in which the Act was made in terms of regnal years (two as Parliament usually sits from October to July) plus the chapter number. Try looking up 10 & 11 Eliz.2 c34. Acts of the Scottish Parliament are distinguished by asp and the number of the Act after the year e.g Marriage (Scotland) Act 2002 asp 8. | When an Act is entered into the Statute Book it is given a Chapter number. Acts are sometimes cited just by the year and the Chapter no.; e.g. 1986 c38: check Scottish current law statutes annotated for 1986 and find Chapter 38 (c38). It is also possible to cite Acts by their short title which includes the year, e.g. Outer Space Act 1986. It is useful, tho' not strictly necessary, to cite both, e.g. Outer Space Act 1986 (c38). Prior to 1963 it was normal to cite the session of Parliament in which the Act was made in terms of regnal years (two as Parliament usually sits from October to July) plus the chapter number. Try looking up 10 & 11 Eliz.2 c34. Acts of the Scottish Parliament are distinguished by asp and the number of the Act after the year e.g Marriage (Scotland) Act 2002 asp 8. | ||
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==Checking for changes to Acts/Statutes== | ==Checking for changes to Acts/Statutes== | ||
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Acts rarely survive intact over a period of time. They are often repealed in part or in whole, or amended by subsequent legislation. More rarely, they never come into force. When looking up Acts it is essential to check that legislation is still current. The following sources should be checked: | Acts rarely survive intact over a period of time. They are often repealed in part or in whole, or amended by subsequent legislation. More rarely, they never come into force. When looking up Acts it is essential to check that legislation is still current. The following sources should be checked: | ||
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These sources detail all changes to existing Acts within the periods stated. Arrangement is by year and chapter no. For a recent Act, e.g. 1989 c15, it would not be necessary to check the citators for 1948-1971 and 1972-1988 as the Act only came into existence in 1989. | These sources detail all changes to existing Acts within the periods stated. Arrangement is by year and chapter no. For a recent Act, e.g. 1989 c15, it would not be necessary to check the citators for 1948-1971 and 1972-1988 as the Act only came into existence in 1989. | ||
| - | + | Note: Lawtel gives the original text of the Act and details of all subsequent changes. Westlaw gives the up to date text of the Act | |
| - | + | ==Online access to Statutes/Acts== | |
| + | [[Westlaw]], [[LAWTEL]] and [[Lexis Nexis Butterworths]] all provide full text of current legislation. Each of these databases provides a slightly different service so it is best to try them all and use the one you feel most comfortable with. | ||
Current revision as of 10:24, 5 October 2007
Contents |
Legislation, Laws and Acts
NULIS has a collection of statutes dating back to 1235. They are held in chronological order but in a number of different series:
- Statutes revised. 3rd ed. (1235-1949)
- Scots statutes revised - the Acts of the Parliament of Scotland 1424-1707
- General public acts and measures (1949-1967)
- Scottish current law statutes annotated (1967-1990)
- Current law statutes annotated (1991 to date)
Statutes revised 3rd ed. 1950 includes the text of all statutes (Acts) then in force (but omitting the Acts of the old Scottish Parliament). Statutes (Acts) or parts thereof repealed prior to 1950 are omitted. Scots statutes revised gives the text of all Scots Acts still in force in 1908, by year and chapter no. (for subsequent repeals see the Statute Law Revision (Scotland) Act 1964 c.80 and the legislation citators thereafter). General public acts and measures gives the text of legislation (excluding local and private Acts). Scottish current law and Current law statutes annotated give the text of legislation plus annotations. Note that Scottish current law statutes annotated changed its title to Current law statutes annotated in 1991. Both titles include all public acts introduced in the years covered by these publications. Since 1999, Current Law Statutes have included Acts of the Scottish Parliament.
Finding Acts/Statutes
When an Act is entered into the Statute Book it is given a Chapter number. Acts are sometimes cited just by the year and the Chapter no.; e.g. 1986 c38: check Scottish current law statutes annotated for 1986 and find Chapter 38 (c38). It is also possible to cite Acts by their short title which includes the year, e.g. Outer Space Act 1986. It is useful, tho' not strictly necessary, to cite both, e.g. Outer Space Act 1986 (c38). Prior to 1963 it was normal to cite the session of Parliament in which the Act was made in terms of regnal years (two as Parliament usually sits from October to July) plus the chapter number. Try looking up 10 & 11 Eliz.2 c34. Acts of the Scottish Parliament are distinguished by asp and the number of the Act after the year e.g Marriage (Scotland) Act 2002 asp 8.
Checking for changes to Acts/Statutes
Acts rarely survive intact over a period of time. They are often repealed in part or in whole, or amended by subsequent legislation. More rarely, they never come into force. When looking up Acts it is essential to check that legislation is still current. The following sources should be checked:
Scottish current law statute citator 1948-1971 Scottish current law legislation citator 1972-1988 Current law legislation citator 1989-1995 Current law legislation citator 1996-1999 Statute citator 2000(Pt.12) Statute citator 2001(Pt.12) Statute citator 2002(Pt 12) Statute citator 2003 (filed in the Current law statutes service binder)
These sources detail all changes to existing Acts within the periods stated. Arrangement is by year and chapter no. For a recent Act, e.g. 1989 c15, it would not be necessary to check the citators for 1948-1971 and 1972-1988 as the Act only came into existence in 1989.
Note: Lawtel gives the original text of the Act and details of all subsequent changes. Westlaw gives the up to date text of the Act
Online access to Statutes/Acts
Westlaw, LAWTEL and Lexis Nexis Butterworths all provide full text of current legislation. Each of these databases provides a slightly different service so it is best to try them all and use the one you feel most comfortable with.
