{"id":84,"date":"2026-04-08T07:56:40","date_gmt":"2026-04-08T06:56:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/legalservices\/?page_id=84"},"modified":"2026-04-21T13:00:41","modified_gmt":"2026-04-21T12:00:41","slug":"legislative-drafting","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.gov.fk\/legalservices\/statute-law-commissioner\/legislative-drafting\/","title":{"rendered":"Legislative Drafting"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
Home<\/a><\/span> \u00bb Legislation Services & Statute Law Commissioner<\/a><\/span> \u00bb Legislative Drafting<\/span><\/span><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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Legislative Drafting<\/h1>\n\n\n
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What we do<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Legislation team drafts and publishes legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We work with others in the Falkland Islands Government to produce draft legislation.  Draft laws are considered by Executive Council and the Legisltive Assembly.  Once approved, legislation is published in the Falkland Islands Gazette and on the Statute Law Database.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We also produce draft legislation for the Government of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands, and publish legislation in the South Georgia and South Sandwich Islands Gazette.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Drafting instructions – policy to legislation<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Legislative drafters work with those instructing them to translate Government policy into clear and effective legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

When a policy which requires a change to the law has been approved, the Government Directorate which administers the law must provide the drafting team with instructions.  This will enable us to draft a new or amending law.  Instructions tell the drafter what the Government’s policy objectives are, and how the law needs to be changed to achieve them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Working in partnership with the Policy and Economic Development Directorate, we have created the ‘Policy Development and Law Reform in the Falkland Islands: Handbook’ which can be downloaded here:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Policy to Legislation Handbook<\/a>Download<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n
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This handbook aims to provide support and guidance for government officers when developing policies, and for the production of drafting instructions when law reform is required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We encourage Directorates to get in touch with us at an early stage when developing a policy which may need new legislation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Together with the wider Government Legal Services team, we can help clarify legal issues around a new policy.  This may include identifying parts of the policy which may not need to be reflected in legislation.  We can also help you estimate the size, complexity and timescales involved in making the law, and can make initial suggestions for a legislative framework (Ordinance or amending Ordinance? Regulations, Orders, guidance etc).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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The Legislative process<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Following production of a Bill or secondary legislation, the Legislation team continue to be involved in:-<\/p>\n\n\n\n