Legislative Drafting Manual

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3.2.3. Consistency with Other Laws
3.2.3.1. Consistency with Domestic Laws
a. A drafter shall first ensure that the policy proposals and the policy options 
for the draft law(s) are consistent with the provisions and requirements of 
existing law(s) and existing legal structures.
b. Subsequently, the drafter must also verify the consistency of each draft 
text of particular law(s) in line with the existing law(s), legal structures, and 
procedures. During this process of verification, the drafter must:-
i. 
Check that the provisions of the draft law are not in conflict with 
some higher level of law, i.e. Secondary legislation (e.g. Regulation) 
is consistent with Primary legislation (e.g. Proclamation), which it 
intends to implement.
ii. 
Check that every provision in the draft is in fact needed and not 
superfluous by some existing law(s).
iii. 
Check that the concepts and the legislative approach of the draft 
law(s) are consistent with existing law(s), legal structures, and 
procedures.
iv. 
Ascertain all the provisions of existing law that must be repealed or 
amended as a consequence of the draft law are properly dealt with 
and that all transitional provisions are included that are necessary to 
ensure legal continuity.
c. If a draft is not being prepared by a group of lawyers, a drafter is highly 
recommended to consult with other lawyers only among the general 
legislative drafting team, who can maintain the confidentiality of the draft, 
so as to cross check if there is no any oversight of important legal 
framework to be addressed.
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