ABSTRACT
Authorities are given powers to make laws of various kinds within their own
areas. Other bodies may also be given similar powers to control areas of
activity, such as the Law Society (solicitors), the BMA (doctors) or the FA
(football). All these laws are usually called ‘by-laws’. Government
departments are often authorised to make laws by particular Acts of
Parliament. For example almost all Health and Safety legislation is made
this way, by means of ‘Regulations’ issued by various Ministries under the
authority of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. These laws are called
‘statutory instruments’.