Legislative Drafting Manual

Define your subject matter 

Clearly define your subject matter and ensure that all points are covered. Do 
not mix subject matters. 

Examine the subject matter of the law and decide if it would be clearer as a 
single set of comprehensive subjects, or if they should be broken down into 
smaller, more specific sets of laws. Considering the audience or audiences of 
the law may also help you determine when and how to divide laws. You should 
consider separating subject matters if it would help readers to more easily find 
the information that applies to them.

Do not mix authorities. Laws made by one law-making authority should not be 
combined with laws made by another law 
–making authority unless the two 
authorities are jointly making it that cannot be made by either one separately.
Write for an individual
Whatever part of your audience you are focusing on, if you write for an individual, 
you have to
www.abyssinialaw.com

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
Carefully analyze what you want the individual to do

Clearly assign responsibilities and requirements

Provide all the information the individual requires
Use natural word order  
There is a natural word order and flow to speech. The natural word order 
is: Subject- verb -direct object -indirect object  
Try to follow this natural word order when writing. For example, you would not say 
“she gave to him the book” (indirect object and direct object are reversed), so do 
not write that way.
Example: write:
“A person must file an application with the Registrar.” (Subject, 
verb, direct object, adverbial phrase) 
Don‟t w rite: “A person must file with registrar an application.”
Example: write: 
“An applicant may ask the Minister to waive the 10 days waiting 
period.” Or „An applicant may request that the Minister waive the 10 day waiting 
period.”
Don‟t write: “An applicant may request to waive the 10 day waiting period the 
Minister.”
Put modifiers near the word that they modify. A modifier is a word or group of 
words that tells more about another word‟s meaning.
Example” Write: “A trailer or semi-trailer that has one axle and is equipped with 
electric or hydraulic brakes”
Don‟t write: “A trailer or semi-trailer equipped with electric or hydraulic brakes 
having one axle
”
If you have too many phrases interrupting the subject-verb-object order, you 
should break the sentence up.