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Drafting manuals and other resources
Many legislative drafting offices have drafting manuals and similar materials.
This page also gives links to other online resources (for example, videos of lectures or webinars related to legislation or legislative drafting).
Drafting manuals
Below are the drafting manuals that CALC is aware of. Further down this page is a table of other resources.
CALC is unable to provide recommendations about drafting manuals. Also, there may be other drafting manuals that CALC is not aware of. If you have information about other drafting manuals, please send details to calcsecretary@pco.nsw.gov.au
|
|
Jurisdiction |
Office |
Guide |
Publication Date |
Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Australia |
Commonwealth |
Office of Parliamentary Counsel |
December 2015 |
https://www.opc.gov.au/sites/g/files/net2056/f/opcs_drafting_services.pdf |
|
|
Australia |
Commonwealth |
Office of Parliamentary Counsel |
OPC Drafting Manual (edition 3.1) |
February 2016 |
https://www.opc.gov.au/sites/g/files/net2056/f/drafting_manual_1.pdf |
|
Australia |
Commonwealth |
Office of Parliamentary Counsel |
Amending forms manual (13th ed) |
December 2017 |
https://www.opc.gov.au/sites/g/files/net2056/f/amendingformsmanual_0.pdf |
|
Australia |
Commonwealth |
Office of Parliamentary Counsel |
December 2013 |
https://www.opc.gov.au/sites/g/files/net2056/f/plain_english_0.pdf |
|
|
Australia |
Commonwealth |
Office of Parliamentary Counsel |
June 2016 |
https://www.opc.gov.au/sites/g/files/net2056/f/reducingcomplexity_0.pdf |
|
|
Australia |
Commonwealth |
Office of Parliamentary Counsel |
Drafting Directions [a list of links to individual Drafting Directions] |
Various |
https://www.opc.gov.au/drafting-resources/drafting-directions [provides list of links to each Drafting Direction]
An index of Drafting Directions (as at 21 June 2018) can be found here: https://www.opc.gov.au/sites/g/files/net2056/f/s05pf324.v103.pdf |
|
Australia |
Australian Capital Territory |
Parliamentary Counsel’s Office |
August 2018 |
http://www.pco.act.gov.au/library/Drafting%20Practice%20Guide.pdf |
|
|
Australia |
Australian Capital Territory |
Parliamentary Counsel’s Office |
December 2016 |
||
|
Australia |
Australian Capital Territory |
Parliamentary Counsel’s Office |
August 2018 |
||
|
Australia |
New South Wales |
Parliamentary Counsel’s Office |
Drafting practice documents [under 'PCO drafting practices' option] |
Various |
https://www.legislation.nsw.gov.au/#/help/legislation [under ‘PCO drafting practices’ tab] |
| Australia | New South Wales | Parliamentary Counsel's Office | PCO Standard: A guide to drafting principles for NSW legislation | May 2023 | https://legislation.nsw.gov.au/file/PCO%20Standard%20-%209%20May%202023%20-%20v01.pdf |
|
Australia |
Queensland |
Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel |
April 2016 |
https://www.legislation.qld.gov.au/file/Guidelines_Local_Laws.pdf |
|
|
Bosnia and Herzegovina |
|
Advisory Board for Legislative Reform |
Manual for Drafting Legislation (Technical Requirements and Style) |
February 2006 |
http://legislativeconsulting.com/resources/manuals/Bosnia-Herzogovina_DraftingManual_2006.pdf |
|
Canada |
Federal |
Department of Justice |
Various |
http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/csj-sjc/legis-redact/juril/toc-tdm.asp [available only in French] |
|
|
Canada |
Federal |
Department of Justice |
Various |
http://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/rp-pr/csj-sjc/legis-redact/legistics/toc-tdm.asp |
|
|
China |
Hong Kong (SAR) |
Law Drafting Division, Department of Justice |
Drafting Legislation in Hong Kong - A Guide to Styles & Practices |
January 2012 |
|
|
Commonwealth |
|
Commonwealth Secretariat |
Commonwealth Legislative Drafting Manual [NB: Click "Read online". Can only be read online. Require login to download PDF version] |
November 2017 |
https://books.thecommonwealth.org/commonwealth-legislative-drafting-manual-paperback [NB: Click "Read online". Can only be read online. Require login to download PDF version] |
|
European Union |
|
|
July 2013 |
https://eur-lex.europa.eu/content/techleg/EN-legislative-drafting-guide.pdf |
|
|
Jersey |
Legislative Drafting Office | Drafting Practice Manual | 2018 | https://www.gov.je/SiteCollectionDocuments/Crime%20and%20justice/ID%20Drafting%20practice%20manual%20-%20version%201%20LS.pdf | |
| Kenya | Kenya Law Reform Commission | A Guide to the Legislative Process in Kenya | 2015 | https://ial-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/klrc-a-guide-to-the-le... | |
| Nauru | Legislative Drafting Section of the Department of Justice & Border Control |
Legislative Drafting Manual | 2015 | https://ial-online.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/Nauru-Drafting-Manual.pdf | |
|
New Zealand |
|
Law Commission |
May 1996 |
https://lawcom.govt.nz/sites/default/files/projectAvailableFormats/NZLC%20R35.pdf |
|
|
New Zealand |
|
Parliamentary Counsel Office |
|
||
|
New Zealand |
|
Legislation Design and Advisory Committee |
Legislation Guidelines: 2018 edition |
March 2018 |
http://www.ldac.org.nz/guidelines/legislation-guidelines-2018-edition/ |
|
Pacific Islands |
Pacific Islands Law Officers' Network (PILON) and Australian Attorney-General's Department | Pacific Toolkit: From policy to legislation | 2020 | https://pilonsec.org/digital-library/pacific-toolkit/foreword/ | |
|
Pakistan
|
Pakistan Institute for Parliamentary Services |
Legislative Drafting Manual - A Hand Book for Legislative Drafters
|
January 2019 | Legislative Drafting Manual - A Hand Book for Legislative Drafters (2.23 MB). | |
| Uganda | Uganda Capacity Building Project (UICBP) | Manual for Guidance of Legislative Draftspersons in Uganda | June 1996 | http://ialorg.wpengine.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Uganda-drafting-ma... | |
| United Kingdom | Cabinet Office | Guide to Making Legislation | February 2022 | https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1048567/guide-to-making-legislation-2022.pdf | |
|
United Kingdom |
|
Office of the Parliamentary Counsel |
June 2020 |
||
|
United Kingdom |
Various |
Various |
March 2021 |
||
|
United Kingdom
|
United Kingdom | The National Archives | Statutory Instrument Practice | 5th edition (November 2017) | http://www.legislation.gov.uk/pdfs/StatutoryInstrumentPractice_5th_Edition.pdf |
|
United Kingdom
|
United Kingdom | OPC, Government Legal Department | Guide to Gender-Neutral Drafting | (2019) | https://5bf0cd3a-5473-4313-b467-45d59f70140a.filesusr.com/ugd/5aa06e_455f1fc65087475fb85782a97d72dccf.pdf |
| United Kingdom |
Scotland |
Parliamentary Counsel Office |
August 2016 |
||
| United Kingdom |
Wales |
Office of the Legislative Counsel |
January 2012 |
http://law.gov.wales/docs/lawwales/legislativedraftingguidelinesen.pdf |
|
|
USA |
Federal |
House of Representatives Legislative Counsel |
|
http://legcounsel.house.gov/HOLC/Drafting_Legislation/Drafting_Guide.html |
|
|
USA |
Federal |
House of Representatives Legislative Counsel |
House Legislative Counsel’s Manual on Drafting Style |
November 1995 |
http://legcounsel.house.gov/HOLC/Drafting_Legislation/draftstyle.pdf |
|
USA |
Federal |
Office of the Legislative Counsel - United States Senate |
Legislative Drafting Manual |
February 1997 |
http://legislativeconsulting.com/resources/manuals/US-Senate_DraftingManual_1997.pdf |
|
USA |
Alabama |
Alabama Legislative Services Agency |
Drafting Style Manual |
2017 |
|
|
USA |
Alaska |
Legislative Affairs Agency |
Manual of Legislative Drafting |
2017 |
|
|
USA |
Arizona |
Arizona Legislative Council |
Arizona Legislative Bill Drafting Manual |
2017-2018 |
http://www.azleg.gov/alisPDFs/council/2017-2018_bill_drafting_manual.pdf |
|
USA |
Arkansas |
Bureau of Legislative Research |
Legislative Drafting Manual |
November 2010 |
http://www.arkleg.state.ar.us/bureau/legal/Publications/2010%20Legislative%20Drafting%20Manual.pdf |
|
USA |
Colorado |
The Office of Legislative Legal Services |
Colorado Legislative Drafting Manual |
December 2017 |
https://leg.colorado.gov/publications/legislative-drafting-manual |
|
USA |
Connecticut |
Legislative Commissioners’ Office |
Manual for Drafting Regulations |
January 2015 |
http://www.cga.ct.gov/lco/pdfs/Regulations_Drafting_Manual.pdf |
|
USA |
Connecticut |
Legislative Commissioners’ Office |
Basic Considerations in Drafting Legislation |
October 2015 |
https://www.cga.ct.gov/lco/pdfs/Basic%20Considerations%20in%20Drafting%20Legislation.pdf |
|
USA |
Delaware |
Legislative Council - Division of Research |
Delaware Legislative Drafting Manual |
January 2017 |
|
|
USA |
Florida |
House Bill Drafting Service - House of Representatives |
Guidelines for Drafting Legislation |
2014 |
|
|
USA |
Hawaii |
Legislative Reference Bureau |
Hawaii Legislative Drafting Manual (10th ed) |
2012 |
http://lrbhawaii.info/reports/legrpts/lrb/2012/legdftman12.pdf |
|
USA |
Idaho |
Legislative Services Office |
Legislation Drafting Manual |
|
https://legislature.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/research/draftingmanual.pdf |
|
USA |
Illinois |
Legislative Reference Bureau |
Illinois Bill Drafting Manual |
December 2012 |
|
|
USA |
Indiana |
Legislative Services Agency |
Drafting Manual for the Indiana General Assembly |
December 2012 |
http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2014/publications/bill_drafting_manual/#document-ae6c0119 |
|
USA |
Indiana |
Legislative Services Agency |
Administrative Rules Drafting Manual |
May 2008 |
http://iga.in.gov/legislative/2018/publications/rules/drafting_manual/ |
|
USA |
Kentucky |
Legislative Research Commission |
Bill Drafting Manual |
December 2011 |
|
|
USA |
Louisiana |
House Legislative Services |
Drafting Style and Usage Manual |
November 2015 |
http://www.ncsl.org/Portals/1/Documents/relacs/manuals/2016LAHouseDraftingManual.pdf |
|
USA |
Maine |
Office of the Revisor of Statutes |
Maine Legislative Drafting Manual |
October 2016 |
|
|
USA |
Maryland |
Department of Legislative Services |
Legislative Drafting Manual 2017 |
September 2016 |
http://dls.maryland.gov/pubs/prod/LegisBillDrafting/Drafting-Manual.pdf |
|
USA |
Massachusetts |
Counsel to the Senate & Counsel to the House of Representatives |
Legislative Research and Drafting Manual (5th ed) |
2010 |
https://malegislature.gov/Content/Documents/General/LegislativeDraftingManual.pdf |
|
USA |
Minnesota |
Office of the Revisor of Statutes |
Minnesota Revisor’s Manual |
2013 |
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/static/office/2013-Revisor-Manual.pdf |
|
USA |
Minnesota |
Office of the Revisor of Statutes |
Minnesota Rules Drafting manual |
1997 |
https://www.revisor.mn.gov/static/office/1997_RuleDraftManual.pdf |
|
USA |
Missouri |
Committee on Legislative Research |
The Essentials of Bill Drafting in the Missouri General Assembly |
October 2011 |
|
|
USA |
New Mexico |
Legislative Council Service |
Legislative Drafting Manual |
September 2015 |
http://leg.mt.gov/content/Publications/2016_Bill_Drafting_Manual.pdf |
|
USA |
North Dakota |
Legislative Council |
North Dakota Legislative Drafting Manual |
2017 |
|
|
USA |
Ohio |
Legislative Service Commission |
Rule Drafting Manual (4th ed) |
May 2006 |
https://www.lsc.ohio.gov/pages/reference/current/generalreference.aspx?active=idLegInform |
|
USA |
Oregon |
Legislative Counsel Committee |
Bill Drafting Manual (17th ed) |
2014 |
https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lc/PDFs/draftingmanual.pdf |
|
USA |
Oregon |
Legislative Counsel Committee |
Form and Style Manual for Legislative Measures |
2017-2018 edition |
https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/lc/PDFs/form-stylemanual.pdf |
|
USA |
Pennsylvania |
Legislative Reference Bureau |
Legislative Drafting Manual |
|
|
|
USA |
Pennsylvania |
Legislative Reference Bureau |
Code & Bulletin Style Manual (5th ed) |
2014 |
|
|
USA |
South Dakota |
Legislative Research Council |
Guide to Legislative Drafting |
2016 |
http://sdlegislature.gov/docs/referencematerials/draftingmanual.pdf |
|
USA |
Tennessee |
Office of Legal Services |
Legislative Drafting Guide |
2018 |
http://www.capitol.tn.gov/joint/staff/legal/2018%20Drafting%20Guide.pdf |
|
USA |
Texas |
Texas Legislative Council |
Drafting Manual (86th Legislature) |
September 2018 |
|
|
USA |
Utah |
|
Drafting Manual |
December 2014 |
|
|
USA |
Washington |
Office of the Code Reviser |
Bill Drafting Guide 2017 |
2017 |
http://www.leg.wa.gov/CodeReviser/Pages/bill_drafting_guide.aspx |
|
USA |
West Virginia |
House Clerk’s Office, Legislative Services, Senate Clerk’s Office |
Bill Drafting Manual |
December 2017 |
http://www.wvlegislature.gov/legisdocs/code/Drafting_Manual.pdf |
|
USA |
Wisconsin |
Wisconsin State Legislature |
Bill Drafting Manual 2017-2018 |
|
http://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/drafting_manual/
|
Other resources
| Resource | Link |
| Athabasca University - Webinars | http://pbdld.athabascau.ca/openaccess/webinars.php |
| Hamlyn Lecture 2017 - Andrew Burrows - Statutory Interpretation | https://www.law.ox.ac.uk/news/2017-11-10-hamlyn-lecture-2017-andrew-burrows-statutory-interpretation |
|
International Association of Legislation (IAL) Drafting Manuals webpage |
https://ial-online.org/around-the-world/legislative-drafting-rules/ |
|
Plain English articles - Michigan Bar Journal |
https://www.michbar.org/generalinfo/plainenglish/home |
|
Regulatory Institute - Handbook: How to Regulate? (2nd ed, 2021) |
|
| Australian Energy Market Commission - Rule drafting philosopy |
https://www.armchair.gov.au/news-centre/media--releases-approach-drafting-energy-rules |
|
European Parliamentary Research Service -- How to stress-test EU policies - Building a more resilient Europe for tomorrow
|
https://www.europarl.europa.eu/thinktank/da/document/EPRS_STU(2022)699474 |