Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 facts for kids
|
|
| Long title | An Act to make provision with respect to the operation, interpretation and citation of Acts of the Parliament of Northern Ireland and of instruments made thereunder. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 1954 c 33 (NI) |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 21 December 1954 |
| Other legislation | |
| Relates to | The Interpretation Act 1978 |
|
Status: Amended
|
|
| Revised text of statute as amended | |
The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 (c 33) (NI) is an important law made by the Parliament of Northern Ireland. Think of it as a rulebook that helps everyone understand how other laws should be read and used. It makes sure that when people talk about laws, they all mean the same thing.
Contents
What is an Interpretation Act?
An Interpretation Act is a special type of law. Its main job is to explain how other laws should be understood. It sets out common rules for words and phrases that appear in many different laws. This helps to avoid confusion and makes sure laws are clear.
Why do we need it?
Imagine if every law had to explain what "person" or "month" means. It would be very long and confusing! An Interpretation Act solves this problem. It provides standard definitions and rules that apply to most laws. This makes laws shorter, clearer, and easier to write. It also helps judges and lawyers understand exactly what a law means.
What does this Act do?
The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 gives specific rules for understanding laws made by the Parliament of Northern Ireland. It covers several important areas:
Understanding the words in laws
This Act helps people understand the exact meaning of words used in laws. For example, it might say that "singular" words (like "person") can also mean "plural" (like "people"). Or it might define what a "month" means in a legal sense. These rules help everyone interpret laws in the same way.
How laws are referred to
The Act also sets rules for how laws are named and referred to. This is called "citation." It makes sure that when someone mentions a law, everyone knows exactly which law they are talking about. This helps keep legal documents clear and organized.
Rules made under laws
Sometimes, a main law allows other smaller rules to be made. These are called "statutory instruments." This Act also provides rules for how these smaller rules should be understood and used. It ensures that all parts of the legal system work together smoothly.
History of the Act
This 1954 Act replaced an older law called the Interpretation Act 1889. The older Act was used across the whole United Kingdom. However, as Northern Ireland developed its own Parliament, it needed its own specific rules for its laws.
Replacing older laws
Laws are often updated or replaced over time. The Interpretation Act (Northern Ireland) 1954 was created to provide a modern set of rules specifically for laws made in Northern Ireland. This made sure that the legal system there was up-to-date and worked well for its people.
See also
- Interpretation Act
 | Emma Amos |
 | Edward Mitchell Bannister |
 | Larry D. Alexander |
 | Ernie Barnes |
