Other countries' legislation and government

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Key to library resources

Access anywhere with a library card In the Library (or anywhere with a Library card for NSW residents)
Available to access in the library Only in the Library
Publicly available online Publicly available

United Kingdom

This guide will help you find Acts, Regulations, Bills and Government publications from a selection of countries.

You'll find help to research legal and government information from the UK on this page. Use the menu on the left to find out more about other countries.

UK legislation and government - online resources

UK legislation and government at the State Library

 

Publication

Years

Call No

Halsbury's Statutes of England and Wales (4th edition) and supplements

1985+

N348.42022/4

Halsbury's Statutes of England and Wales (3rd edition)

1968–1985 consolidation

N348.42022/5

Public General Acts

1987+

NQ349.4201/1

 

1961-1986

N349.4201/3

 

1972-2010

T0406114

Offsite Storage

 

1906-1960

T0405422

Offsite Storage

 

1827-1905 (incomplete)

TQ078894

Offsite Storage

 

1866-1925

N346.421/9

The Statutes - Great Britain

1875-1885

TQ078897

Offsite Storage

Statutes of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland

1804–1859

TQ078896

Offsite Storage

Statutes at large, 10 volumes, 1811 edition

1225-1800

TQ078895

Offsite Storage

 

The Public general acts...and the church assembly measures

1926-1971

N346.421/9

Statutory instruments

1890-1947

T0405467

 

1948-1951

T0405468

Offsite Storage

 

1962-1986

N349.4201/1

 

1987-1990

TQ043410

Offsite Storage

The London Gazette

1961-1992 (incomplete)

NQ354.42/1

Offsite Storage

 

1790–1864; 1904-1960

TQ078863

Offsite Storage

 

Aug–Sept, 1768

Q342.42/1

 

1665-1800

RAV/FM4/1634

Microfilm

Glossary

Acts (of Parliament)

The law made by parliament and often referred to as an Act of Parliament. Sometimes referred to as a statute or legislation.

As made (Acts and regulations)

Acts as originally passed by parliament without amendments. Also referred to as Sessional Acts or Acts as passed.

Commencement order

A Commencement Order is a form of Statutory Instrument which is designed to bring into force the whole or part of an Act of Parliament at a date later than the date of the Royal Assent. If there is no Commencement Order, the Act will come into force from midnight at the start of the day of the Royal Assent.

General Public Acts

Public General Acts form the largest category of legislation, in principle affecting the public general law applying to everyone across the entire United Kingdom.

Halsbury's Statutes

Halsbury’s Statutes of England and Wales (commonly referred to as Halsbury's Statutes) is a printed source of all current Acts of Parliament that incorporates repeals and amendments into the text of the act.

House of Commons

The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

House of Lords

The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom.

Royal Assent

Royal Assent is the Monarch's agreement to make a Bill into an Act of Parliament. The Monarch actually has the right to refuse Royal Assent but nowadays this does not happen and the Royal Assent is a formality.

Statutes at large

Statutes at Large is the name given to published collections or series of legislative Acts in a number of jurisdictions.

Statutory Instrument

Statutory Instruments, also known as SIs, are a form of legislation which allow the provisions of an Act of Parliament to be subsequently brought into force or altered without Parliament having to pass a new Act. They are also referred to as secondary, delegated or subordinate legislation.

Legal information at the Library

This Guide has been developed by staff of the Legal Information Access Centre (LIAC), State Library of NSW. The State Library holds an extensive collection of case law, legislation and looseleaf publications.

GLOSSARY

See the glossary for explanations of terms used on this page, such as:

  • What are Halsbury's Statutes?
  • What are statutory instruments?
  • What is the House of Commons?

Onsite storage

Most Library material is held in storage on site. 

You can request material via the catalogue and up to seven days in advance. 

Most material will be ready to collect in 30-45 minutes.

Offsite storage

State Library material held at offsite storage will be available after 4pm the next weekday. Call (02)9273 1414 to request in advance.