statutory instrument

Definition

Subordinate legislation made by executive authority under powers delegated by parliament, allowing ministers to create detailed rules without full legislative debate. It's how governments make law while parliament watches from the sidelines.

Example Usage

The ministry issued a statutory instrument changing the regulations, because getting parliament to debate parking fees would take six months.

Origin

British legal terminology, formalized by the Statutory Instruments Act 1946

Fun Fact

Thousands of statutory instruments are issued annually in the UK, vastly outnumbering actual Acts of Parliament, meaning most law is made by civil servants you've never heard of.

Source: Administrative law textbooks and parliamentary delegation research

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