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AJ Procedures

A step of type Decision.

There are 8 procedures.

  1. Draft affirmative

    Instruments subject to the draft affirmative procedure are laid in draft and require approval in Parliament before being signed into law. Instruments concerning taxation are not laid in the Lords and only require the approval of the Commons. The Commons debates the instrument in a Delegated Legislation Committee or in the Commons Chamber, where a decision on approval is made. The Lords debates the instrument in Grand Committee or in the Lords Chamber, where a decision on approval is made.

  2. Draft affirmative remedial order

    A remedial order is an order made by a minister under the Human Rights Act 1998 to amend legislation which has been found incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. Remedial orders can be used to amend both primary and secondary legislation, and they may do anything necessary to fix the incompatibility with the Convention rights. Draft remedial orders are considered by the Joint Committee on Human Rights and then need to be approved by both Houses to become law.

  3. Legislative Reform Order

    Legislative Reform Orders (LROs) are a specific type of delegated legislation that the Government can use to remove or reduce burdens that result directly or indirectly from legislation, or to promote principles of better regulation. They are made under terms set out in the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 and are subject to scrutiny by a special committee in each House.

  4. Made affirmative remedial order

    A remedial order is an order made by a minister under the Human Rights Act 1998 to amend legislation which has been found incompatible with the European Convention on Human Rights. Remedial orders can be used to amend both primary and secondary legislation, and they may do anything necessary to fix the incompatibility with the Convention rights. Urgent orders may be made without advance scrutiny, but they will stop being law if they are not approved by both Houses within 120 days of being laid before Parliament.

  5. Made negative

    Instruments subject to the made negative procedure do not require approval in Parliament before becoming law. These instruments may come into force on any date after being laid. Instruments concerning taxation are not laid in the Lords. Either House may pass a motion within the objection period which annuls the instrument and stops it having effect.

  6. Proposed draft remedial order

    Remedial orders are a type of statutory instrument. Under the Human Rights Act 1998, courts can declare Acts of Parliament incompatible with the European convention on human rights. The Government can use remedial orders to amend Acts to remove the incompatibility. A minister formally presents (or ‘lays’) a proposal for a draft remedial order. Parliament has 60 days to consider the proposal. The Joint Committee on Human Rights (a Committee of Members of the Commons and Lords) also scrutinises the proposal. At the end of the 60-day period, the minister can lay a draft remedial order. The minister has to report details of any representations made during the 60 days and any changes made to the proposal.

  7. Proposed negative statutory instrument

    A Minister may exercise powers under the EU (Withdrawal) Act 2018 or the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 to propose that instruments be subject to the proposed negative procedure. After a proposed negative instrument has been laid, each House has ten sitting days in which it may consider the instrument and agree with the proposal of the Minister, or instead recommend the instrument be subject to the draft affirmative procedure. In the Commons, the instrument is considered by the European Statutory Instruments Committee. In the Lords, the instrument is considered by the Secondary Legislation Scrutiny Committee. Any result of consideration does not bind a Minister, who must nevertheless make a written statement if disagreeing with a recommendation of a committee.

  8. Treaties subject to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010

    A treaty may be ratified if the Commons does not resolve against ratification within 21 sitting days. A Minister may extend this period. If the Commons resolves against ratification, a Minister may make a statement in disagreement, following which the Commons may consider for a further 21 sitting days. Even if the Lords resolves against ratification, a Minister may make a statement that the treaty be ratified. A Minister may determine a treaty be ratified without it being laid before Parliament.

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