Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973

  1. Introductory Text

  2. Part I Preliminary

    1. Status of Northern Ireland

      1. 1. Status of Northern Ireland as part of United Kingdom.

    2. Devolution orders

      1. 2. Initial devolution of legislative and executive responsibility.

      2. 3. Alterations in devolved responsibilities.

  3. Part II Legislative Powers and Executive Authorities

    1. Legislative powers

      1. 4. Measures of Northern Ireland Assembly.

      2. 5. Secretary of State’s consent for proposed Measures dealing with excepted or reserved matters.

      3. 6. Parliamentary control of Measures dealing with excepted or reserved matters.

    2. Executive authorities

      1. 7. Executive authorities in Northern Ireland.

      2. 8. The Northern Ireland Executive.

      3. 9. Remuneration and pensions of members of Northern Ireland Executive etc.

      4. 10. Attorney General for Northern Ireland.

      5. 11. Agency arrangements between United Kingdom and Northern Ireland departments.

    3. Relations with Republic of Ireland

      1. 12. Consultation, agreements and arrangements with Republic of Ireland.

    4. Financial provisions

      1. 13. Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland.

      2. 14. Proceedings in Assembly for imposing charge on public funds or for imposing taxation.

      3. 15. Payment to Northern Ireland of share of United Kingdom taxes.

      4. 16. Grants to Northern Ireland out of moneys provided by Parliament.

  4. Part III Prevention of Religious and Political Discrimination

    1. 17. Discrimination in legislation.

    2. 18. Special procedure for determining validity of legislation.

    3. 19. Discrimination by public authorities.

    4. 20. The Standing Advisory Commission on Human Rights.

    5. 21. Unlawful oaths, undertakings and declarations.

    6. 22. Removal of restrictions on investigation into maladministration.

    7. 23. Interpretation and supplemental.

  5. Part IV The Northern Ireland Assembly

    1. 24. Presiding officer and Clerk of the Assembly.

    2. 25. Procedure.

    3. 26. Privileges, remuneration, etc.

    4. 27. Dissolution and prorogation.

    5. 28. Constituencies and number of members.

    6. 29. Elections and franchise.

    7. 30.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

  6. Part V Miscellaneous and Supplementary

    1. 31. Abolition of Parliament of Northern Ireland.

    2. 32. Abolition of office of Governor and provisions as to Privy Council of Northern Ireland.

    3. 33. Preservation of pension rights of former members of Parliament of Northern Ireland and former Ministers.

    4. 34. Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.

    5. 35. Crown Solicitor for Northern Ireland.

    6. 36. Provisions as to other Northern Ireland officers.

    7. 37. Provisions as to Joint Exchequer Board and other financial matters.

    8. 38. Power to legislate by Order in Council for certain matters relating to Northern Ireland.

    9. 39. Power to legislate by Order in Council for purposes consequential on this Act or on Orders under s. 3.

    10. 40. General adaptation of references to institutions and offices abolished by this Act.

    11. 41. Repeals.

    12. 42. Saving for existing laws.

    13. 43. Short title, interpretation and commencement.

  7. SCHEDULES

    1. SCHEDULE 1

      Polls for Purposes of Section 1

      1. 1.The Secretary of State may by order direct the holding...

      2. 2.Any order under this Schedule directing the holding of a...

      3. 3.The power to make orders under this Schedule includes power...

    2. SCHEDULE 2

      Excepted Matters

      1. 1.The Crown, including the succession to the Crown and a...

      2. 2.The Parliament of the United Kingdom; parliamentary elections, including the...

      3. 3.International relations, including treaties, the making of peace or war...

      4. 4.The armed forces of the Crown but not any matter...

      5. 5.Dignities and titles of honour.

      6. 6.Treason and treason felony but not powers of arrest or...

      7. 7.Nationality; immigration; aliens as such.

      8. 8.Taxes for the time being levied under any law applying...

      9. 9.The appointment and removal of judges of the Supreme Court...

      10. 10.The appointment and office of the Director and deputy Director...

      11. 11.Elections, including the franchise, in respect of the Northern Ireland...

      12. 12.Coinage, legal tender and bank notes.

      13. 13.The National Savings Bank.

      14. 14.Special powers and other provisions for dealing with terrorism or...

      15. 15.Without prejudice to paragraphs 10 and 11 above, any matter...

    3. SCHEDULE 3

      Minimum Reserved Matters on Appointed Day

      1. 1.Any such property as is mentioned in paragraph 1(b) of...

      2. 2.All matters, other than those specified in paragraph 9 of...

      3. 3.Without prejudice to paragraphs 4, 5 and 6 below, the...

      4. 4.The following matters— (a) the criminal law, including the creation...

      5. 5.The establishment, organisation and control of the Royal Ulster Constabulary...

      6. 6.Firearms and explosives.

      7. 7.Disqualification for membership of the Northern Ireland Assembly; privileges, powers...

      8. 8.The exercise of legislative powers so far as required for...

      9. 9.Trade with any place outside the United Kingdom but not—...

      10. 10.Navigation, including merchant shipping, but not harbours or inland waters....

      11. 11.The foreshore and the sea bed and subsoil and their...

      12. 12.Civil aviation but not aerodromes.

      13. 13.Postal services, including . . . the issue, transmission and...

      14. 13A.Telecommunications.

      15. 14.Wireless telegraphy, and the provision of programme services (within the...

      16. 15.Domicile.

      17. 16.Nuclear installations.

      18. 17.Trade marks, designs, copyright and patent rights.

      19. 18.Units of measurement and United Kingdom primary standards.

      20. 19.Oaths, undertakings in lieu of oaths and declarations other than...

      21. 20. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

      22. 21.Civil defence.

      23. 22.The Emergency Powers Act (Northern Ireland) 1926 or any enactment...

    4. SCHEDULE 4

      Form of Oath or Affirmation under Section 8

    5. SCHEDULE 5

      General Adaptation of References to Institutions and Offices Abolished by this Act

      1. 1.(1) Any reference to an Act or enactment of the...

      2. 2.(1) Any reference to moneys provided by the Parliament of...

      3. 3.(1) Any reference to a resolution of the Senate or...

      4. 4.(1) Any reference to the Governor of Northern Ireland, as...

      5. 5.Any reference to the Prime Minister of Northern Ireland shall,...

      6. 6.Any reference to the Executive Committee for Northern Ireland shall...

      7. 7.(1) Any reference to a Minister of Northern Ireland identified...

      8. 8.(1) Any reference to a specified Ministry of Northern Ireland...

    6. SCHEDULE 6

      Repeals