Orders in Council

MADE BY

• the Queen
• the Privy Council (senior politicians etc.)

USES

• to transfer responsibilites between government departments
• to make specific law changes (see example)
• to bring acts of parliament into force
• to give legal effect to European Directives under powers given by the European Communities Act 1972
• in emergency situtations under the Civil Contingencies Act 2004

EXAMPLE

• used to change the classification of cannabis from a class B to a class C drug
• this was an alteration of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971