Legislative acts (Other law)

Commonwealth Resolution

A Commonwealth Resolution establishes official policy of a binding legislative act in its entirety for all bodies or a specific body of the British Commonwealth, or an official binding legislative decision in its entirety on a subject or subjects of the British Commonwealth, specifying those to whom it is addressed and shall be binding only on them.

Commonwealth Directive

A Commonwealth Directive is a non-binding legislative act of strategy for all bodies of the British Commonwealth and sets out the policies immediately executable by the Commonwealth Trustees’ on behalf of the people of the Commonwealth.

Trade Resolutions

A Trade Resolution establishes trade policy of a binding legislative decision in its entirety on a participant or participants of trade activities in the Commonwealth, specifying those to whom it is addressed and shall be binding only on them.

Civil Service Resolution

A Civil Service Resolution establishes civil service policy of an official binding legislative decision in its entirety, either for all bodies or a specific body of the Union State of the British Commonwealth at a particular state level, or on a subject or subjects of the British Commonwealth at that particular state level, specifying those to whom it is addressed and shall be binding only on them at the state level of issue.

Commonwealth Lords Opinion

An opinion of the Lords of Commonwealth is an instrument that allows to make an honest statement on the propriety, justness and equity of legislation, government decisions and actions of individuals without imposing any legal obligation on the subject of the opinion. An opinion has no binding force beyond the Union State of British Commonwealth.

An opinion (in the form of an legislative act) is issued after a meeting of the Lords on Opinion following a valid request by a member of the public, to a member of the public.

Opinions are not issued to Members, Senators and Lords, but such would be a valid request if the opinion concerns the peoples’ law.

Commonwealth Statutory Instruments

Commonwealth Statutory Instruments () are documents drafted by the union government to adapt Commonwealth Law that are either rules, orders or a regulation. These are published with an explanatory memorandum, which outlines the purpose of the CSI and why the adaptation is necessary.

The Supreme Congress can either approve or reject an CSI, but cannot amend it.

The role of the Supreme Congress in considering an CSI varies depending on what is stated in its parent Act, including information on whether the negative or affirmative procedure is followed. Usually, a Joint Committee is responsible for a type of CSI.

Members of the public cannot table a motion to object to or stop an CSI. They must contact a Member or Lord and ask them to do it.

Draft affirmative CSIs laid need to be approved by the Supreme Congress before they can be made (signed into law) and brought into effect as law.

Negative CSIs do not need active approval by the Supreme Congress. Usually negative CSIs are made (signed by the minister) before being laid at a Commonwealth Senate Hearing.