Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973
1973 c. 36An Act to make new provision for the government of Northern Ireland.
Part I Preliminary¶
Status of Northern Ireland¶
F11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
Devolution orders¶
F22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F33 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
Part II Legislative Powers and Executive Authorities¶
Legislative powers¶
F44 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F55 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F66 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
Executive authorities¶
F77 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F88 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F99 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
10 Attorney General for Northern Ireland.¶
F1211 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
Relations with Republic of Ireland¶
F1312 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
Financial provisions¶
F1413 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F1514 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F1615 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F1716 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
C8C9Part III Prevention of Religious and Political Discrimination¶
F1817 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F1918 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F2019 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F2120 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F2221 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F2322 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F2423 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
Part IV The Northern Ireland Assembly¶
F2524 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F2625 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F2726 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F2827 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F2928 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F3029 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F3130 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
Part V Miscellaneous and Supplementary¶
31 ¶
F3432 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
33 Preservation of pension rights of former members of Parliament of Northern Ireland and former Ministers.¶
34 Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.¶
F36. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35 Crown Solicitor for Northern Ireland.¶
36 Provisions as to other Northern Ireland officers.¶
37 Provisions as to Joint Exchequer Board and other financial matters.¶
F4338 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F4439 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
F4540 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
41 Repeals.¶
C12C1342 Saving for existing laws. C11¶
43 Short title, interpretation and commencement.¶
- “the appointed day” means the day appointed under section 2 above for the commencement of Part II of this Act;
- F47. . .
- F47. . .
- “enactment” includes an enactment of the Parliament of Northern Ireland;
- “functions” includes powers and duties;
- F47. . .
- “Northern Ireland” has the same meaning as for the purposes of the M4Government of Ireland Act 1920;
- “Northern Ireland executive authorities” has the meaning given in section 7(6) above;
- F47. . .
- F47. . .
SCHEDULES
F49SCHEDULE 1 ¶
Polls for Purposes of Section 1
Section 1.
1 ¶
The Secretary of State may by order direct the holding of a poll for the purposes of section 1 of this Act on a date specified in the order, but the date so specified shall not be earlier than 9th March 1983 or earlier than ten years after the date of a previous poll under this Schedule.2 ¶
Any order under this Schedule directing the holding of a poll shall make provision as to the persons entitled to vote on the poll, the question or questions to be asked of the persons so voting and the conduct of the poll, and may make such other provision in connection with the poll as appears to the Secretary of State to be expedient, including provision applying, with or without modifications, any enactment or statutory provision with respect to Parliamentary elections or elections to the Assembly.3 ¶
The power to make orders under this Schedule includes power to vary or revoke a previous order and shall be exercisable by statutory instrument but no such order shall be made unless a draft of the order has been approved by resolution of each House of Parliament.F50SCHEDULE 2 ¶
Excepted Matters
Section 2.
1 ¶
The Crown, including the succession to the Crown and a regency, but not—2 ¶
The Parliament of the United Kingdom; parliamentary elections, including the franchise; disqualifications for membership of that Parliament.3 ¶
International relations, including treaties, the making of peace or war and neutrality, and matters connected therewith but not—4 ¶
The armed forces of the Crown but not any matter within paragraph 3 of Schedule 3 to this Act.5 ¶
Dignities and titles of honour.6 ¶
Treason and treason felony but not powers of arrest or criminal procedure in respect thereof.7 ¶
Nationality; immigration; aliens as such.8 ¶
Taxes for the time being levied under any law applying to the United Kingdom as a whole, existing Northern Ireland taxes and taxes substantially of the same character as any of those taxes.In this paragraph “existing Northern Ireland taxes” means any of the following taxes levied in Northern Ireland before the appointed day, that is to say, estate duty, stamp duty, general betting duty, pool betting duty, duty on gaming machine licences and duty on licences in respect of mechanically-propelled vehicles.
9 ¶
The appointment and removal of judges of the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland, county court judges, recorders, resident magistrates, justices of the peace, members of juvenile court panels, coroners, the Chief and other National Insurance Commissioners for Northern Ireland the Chief and other Child Support Commissioners for Northern Irelandand the President and other members of the Lands Tribunal for Northern Ireland.10 ¶
The appointment and office of the Director and deputy Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.11 ¶
Elections, including the franchise, in respect of the Northern Ireland Assembly and local authorities.12 ¶
Coinage, legal tender and bank notes.13 ¶
The National Savings Bank.14 ¶
Special powers and other provisions for dealing with terrorism or subversion.15 ¶
Without prejudice to paragraphs 10 and 11 above, any matter for which provision is made by the M6Northern Ireland Assembly Act 1973 or this Act or by the M7Northern Ireland Act 1974 or the M8Northern Ireland Act 1982 but not—F51SCHEDULE 3 ¶
Minimum Reserved Matters on Appointed Day
Sections 2 and 3.
1 ¶
Any such property as is mentioned in paragraph 1(b) of Schedule 2 to this Act but not as respects any aerodrome or harbour.2 ¶
All matters, other than those specified in paragraph 9 of Schedule 2 to this Act, relating to the Supreme Court of Judicature of Northern Ireland . . . F57 county courts, courts of summary jurisdiction (including magistrates’ courts and juvenile courts) and coroners, including procedure, evidence, appeals, juries, costs, legal aid and the registration, execution and enforcement of judgments and orders but not—3 ¶
Without prejudice to paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 below, the maintenance of public order, including the conferring of powers, authorities, privileges or immunities for that purpose on constables, members of the armed forces of the Crown and other persons, but not any matter within paragraph 14 of Schedule 2 to this Act.4 ¶
The following matters—5 ¶
The establishment, organisation and control of the Royal Ulster Constabulary and of any other police force; the Police Authority for Northern Ireland; traffic wardens.6 ¶
Firearms and explosives.7 ¶
Disqualification for membership of the Northern Ireland Assembly; privileges, powers and immunities of the Assembly, its members and committees greater than those conferred by section 26(1) of this Act.8 ¶
The exercise of legislative powers so far as required for giving effect to any agreement or arrangement made under section 12 of this Act.9 ¶
Trade with any place outside the United Kingdom but not—10 ¶
Navigation, including merchant shipping, but not harbours or inland waters.11 ¶
The foreshore and the sea bed and subsoil and their natural resources (except so far as affecting harbours); submarine pipe-lines; submarine cables, including any land line used solely for the purpose of connecting one submarine cable with another.12 ¶
Civil aviation but not aerodromes.13 ¶
Postal services, including . . . F58 the issue, transmission and payment of money and postal orders issued by the Post Office; designs for postage stamps.13A ¶
Telecommunications.14 ¶
Wireless telegraphy, and the provision of programme services (within the meaning of the Broadcasting Act 1990).15 ¶
Domicile.16 ¶
Nuclear installations.C1917 ¶
Trade marks, designs, copyright and patent rights.18 ¶
Units of measurement and United Kingdom primary standards.19 ¶
Oaths, undertakings in lieu of oaths and declarations other than those excepted from subsection (1) of section 21 of this Act by subsection (3) of that section.20 F61. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .¶
21 ¶
Civil defence.22 ¶
The M9Emergency Powers Act (Northern Ireland) 1926 or any enactment for similar purposes.F52SCHEDULE 4 ¶
Form of Oath or Affirmation under Section 8
Section 8.
I swear by Almighty God [or affirm] that I will uphold the laws of Northern Ireland and conscientiously fulfil [as a member of the Northern Ireland Executive] my duties under the Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 in the interests of Northern Ireland and its people.
F53SCHEDULE 5 ¶
General Adaptation of References to Institutions and Offices Abolished by this Act
Section 40.
1 ¶
2 ¶
3 ¶
4 ¶
5 ¶
Any reference to the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland shall, as respects functions to be discharged by him, be construed as a reference to the chief executive member.6 ¶
Any reference to the Executive Committee for Northern Ireland shall be construed as a reference to the Northern Ireland Executive.7 ¶
8 ¶
C18SCHEDULE 6 ¶
Repeals
Section 41.
Footnotes
- C1Act amended by Patents, Designs and Marks Act 1986 (c. 39, SIF 67A), s. 2(2)
- C2Act amended by Social Security Act 1990 (c. 27, SIF 113:1), s. 22(2)
- C3Act amended (1.8.1991) by Human Fertilisation and Embryology Act 1990 (c. 37, SIF 83:1), s. 48(2)(with ss. 39(3), 43(2)); S.I. 1991/1400, art. 2(2)
- C4Act excluded by Environmental Protection Act 1990 (c. 43, SIF 46:4), ss. 3(8), 153(5)
- C5Act amended (1.9.1992) by Child Support Act 1991 (c. 48, SIF 20), s. 23(4), (with s. 9(2)); S.I. 1992/1938, art.2
- I1Act partly in force at Royal Assent; Act wholly in force at 1.1.1974 see ss. 2, 43(5).
- C6Act amended (25.10.1993) by 1993 c. 39, s. 63(2), S.I. 1993/2632, art. 2
- C7Act amended (7.2.1994) by 1993 c. 48. ss. 187(1); S.I. 1994/86, art. 2
- F1S. 1 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F2S. 2 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F3S. 3 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F4S. 4 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F5S. 5 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F6S. 6 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F7S. 7 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F8S. 8 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F9S. 9 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F10S. 10(2)(3) repealed (30.9.1997) by 1997 c. 60, s. 3(2), Sch.
- F11S. 10(4) repealed by Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1981 (c. 19), Sch. 1 Pt. IV
- F12S. 11 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F13S. 12 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, ss. 100(2), Sch. 15 (with Sch. 14 para. 20); S.I. 1999, art. 2, Sch.
- F14S. 13 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F15S. 14 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, ss. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F16S. 15 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F17S. 16 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F18S. 17 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15 (with Sch. 14 para. 21); S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F19S. 18 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15 (with Sch. 14 para. 21); S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F20S. 19 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15 (with Sch. 14 para. 22); S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F21S. 20 repealed (1.3.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/340, art. 2, Sch. Pt. III
- F22S. 21 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F23S. 22 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F24S. 23 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- C8Pt. III (ss. 17-23) modified (N.I.) (1.7.1992) by Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 (c. 8), ss. 167(2), 168(4) (with ss. 153(5), 161, Sch. 6 para. 1(7))
- C9Pt. III (ss. 17-23) modified (N.I.) (7.2.1994) by 1993 c. 49, ss. 176(8), 186(2)
- F25S. 24 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, ss. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F26S. 25 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F27S. 26 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F28S. 27 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F29S. 28 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F30S. 29 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F31S. 30 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F32S. 31(1)-(3) repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F33S. 31(4)-(6) repealed (19.11.1998) by 1998 c. 47, ss. 100(1), 101(2), Sch. 15
- F34S. 32 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(1), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F35S. 33(1) repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- M11952 c. 15 (N.I.)
- F36S. 34 repealed (13.6.2005) by 2002 c. 26, ss. 86, 87, Sch. 13; S.R. 2005/281, art. 2, Sch. 1 para. 14(b)
- F37S. 35(1A) inserted (3.4.2006) by 2002 c. 26, ss. 18(10), 87; S.R. 2006/124, art. 2 Sch. para. 6
- F38Words in s. 35(1A)(b) substituted (1.10.2009) by Constitutional Reform Act 2005 (c. 4), ss. 59, 148, Sch. 11 para. 6; S.I. 2009/1609, art. 2(d)
- F39S. 35(3) substituted (3.4.2006) by 2002 c. 26, ss. 20, 87; S.R. 2006/124, art. 2 Sch. para. 7
- F40S. 36(1)(d) repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(1), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F41S. 36(2)(3)(4) repealed (16.7.1996) by S.I. 1996/1298 (NI 8), art. 21(2), Sch. 6
- F42S. 37(1) repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- M21920 c. 67.
- F43S. 38 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F44S. 39 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F45S. 40 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- C10The text of ss. 30(3), 41(1) and Sch. 6 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.
- C11S. 42 extended by S.I. 1986/1032 (N.I. 6), art. 2(4)
- C12S. 42 amended by S.I. 1989/1339 (N.I. 11), art. 2(10)
- C13S. 42 extended by S.I. 1990/594 (N.I. 6), Pt. I art. 2(11)
- C14S. 42(2) extended by S.I. 1989/846 (N.I. 6), Pt. I art. 2(4)
- C15S. 42(3) extended by S.I. 1986/594 (N.I. 3), art 2(3)
- C16S. 42(3) extended (21.8.1991) by S.I. 1991/1220 (N.I. 11), arts. 1(2), 2(3).
- M31972 c. 22.
- F46Words in s. 42(3) repealed (2.12.1999) by S.I. 1999/663, art. 2(2), Sch. 2
- F47Definitions in s. 43(2) repealed (2.12.1999) by S.I. 1999/663, arts. 1(2), 2(2), Sch. 2
- M41920 c. 67.
- F48S. 43(3) repealed (2.12.1999) by S.I. 1999/663, arts. 1(2), 2(2), Sch. 2
- C171.9.1973 appointed under s. 43(6) by S.I. 1973/1418
- F49Sch. 1 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F50Sch. 2 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F51Sch. 3 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F52Sch. 4 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- F53Sch. 5 repealed (2.12.1999) by 1998 c. 47, s. 100(2), Sch. 15; S.I. 1999/3209, art. 2, Sch.
- C18The text of ss. 30(3), 41(1) and Sch. 6 is in the form in which it was originally enacted: it was not reproduced in Statutes in Force and does not reflect any amendments or repeals which may have been made prior to 1.2.1991.Sch. 6 Pt. I: saving in respect of orders made under 1920 c. 67, s. 69 repealed (31.7.1998) in so far as it relates to S.R. & O. 1922/80
- M51972 c. 68.
- F54Words in Sch. 2 para. 9 inserted (1.9.1992) by Child Support Act 1991 (c. 48, SIF 20), s. 58(13), Sch. 5 para.2 (with s. 9(2)); S.I. 1992/1938, art.2
- M61973 c. 17.
- F55Words inserted by Northern Ireland Act 1982 (c. 38, SIF 29:3), Sch. 2 para. 9(a)
- M71974 c. 28
- M81982 c. 38.
- F56Words inserted by Northern Ireland Act 1982 (c. 38, SIF 29:3), Sch. 2 para. 9(b)
- F57Words repealed by Judicature (Northern Ireland) Act 1978 (c. 23, SIF 38), s. 122, Sch. 7 Pt. I
- F58Words repealed by British Telecommunications Act 1981 (c. 38, SIF 96), Sch. 6 Pt. II
- F59Para 13A inserted by British Telecommunications Act 1981 (c. 38 SIF 96), Sch. 3 para. 57(2)(b)
- F60Words substituted by virtue of Cable and Broadcasting Act 1984 (c. 46, SIF 96), s. 57(1), Sch. 5 para. 28 and Broadcasting Act 1990 (c. 42, SIF 96), s. 203(1), Sch. 20 para. 19
- C19Sch. 3 para. 17 amended (31.10.1994) by 1994 c. 26, s. 106(1), Sch. 4 para. 1(2); S.I. 1994/2550, art. 2
- F61Sch. 3 para. 20 repealed by Trustee Savings Banks Act 1985 (c. 58, SIF 110), ss. 4(3), 7(3), Sch. 4, S.I. 1986/1223, art. 12
- M91926 c. 8 (N.I.)
- F62S. 10(1) repealed (12.4.2010) by Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26), s. 87(1), Sch. 13; S.R. 2010/113, art. 2, Sch. para. 21(e)
- F63Words in s. 35(1) substituted (12.4.2010) by Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26), s. 87(1), Sch. 7 para. 14(2); S.R. 2010/113, art. 2, Sch. para. 19(c)
- F64Words in s. 35(2) substituted (12.4.2010) by Justice (Northern Ireland) Act 2002 (c. 26), s. 87(1), Sch. 7 para. 14(3); S.R. 2010/113, art. 2, Sch. para. 19(c)
- F65S. 36(1)(a)(b) repealed (N.I.) (1.4.2016) by Public Services Ombudsman Act (NorthernIreland) 2016 (c. 4), s. 64, Sch. 9