Title and introductory text
Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973 1973 c. 36 An Act to make new provision for the government of Northern Ireland. [18th July 1973]
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Northern Ireland Constitution Act 1973
United Kingdom · statute
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In force since 2016-04-01, as the publisher states.
Copy read on 2026-11-08. The page it was read from
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.
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Contents: 50 provisions
- Title and introductory text
- 1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 5 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 6 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 7 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 9 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 10 Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
- 11 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 12 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 13 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 14 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 15 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 16 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 17 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 18 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 19 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 20 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 21 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 22 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 23 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 24 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 25 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 26 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 27 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 28 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 29 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 30 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 31
- 32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 33 Preservation of pension rights of former members of Parliament of Northern Ireland and former Ministers.
- 34 Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.
- 35 Crown Solicitor for Northern Ireland.
- 36 Provisions as to other Northern Ireland officers.
- 37 Provisions as to Joint Exchequer Board and other financial matters.
- 38 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 39 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 40 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- 41 Repeals.
- 42 Saving for existing laws.
- 43 Short title, interpretation and commencement.
- SCHEDULE 1 Polls for Purposes of Section 1
- SCHEDULE 2 Excepted Matters
- SCHEDULE 3 Minimum Reserved Matters on Appointed Day
- SCHEDULE 4 Form of Oath or Affirmation under Section 8
- SCHEDULE 5 General Adaptation of References to Institutions and Offices Abolished by this Act
- SCHEDULE 6 Repeals
Proposed changes to this act
No one has proposed a change to this act yet.
50 provisions
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Propose a change10 Attorney General for Northern Ireland.
(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Propose a change31
(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change32 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Propose a change33 Preservation of pension rights of former members of Parliament of Northern Ireland and former Ministers.
(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) Save as aforesaid and without prejudice to any provision made under this Act, nothing in this Act affects any pension payable under the said Act of 1965 or section 1 of the Ministerial Offices Act (Northern Ireland) 1952 the right to which has accrued before the passing of this Act or accrues upon a person ceasing to be a member of the Parliament of Northern Ireland by reason of section 31 above.
Propose a change34 Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland.
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Propose a change35 Crown Solicitor for Northern Ireland.
(1) As from the appointed day there shall be a Crown Solicitor for Northern Ireland appointed by the Advocate General for Northern Ireland after consultation with the Attorney General for Northern Ireland . (1A) A person is not qualified for appointment as Crown Solicitor unless he is— (a) a member of the Bar of Northern Ireland of at least ten years’standing; or (b) a solicitor of the Court of Judicature of at least ten years’ standing. (2) The Crown Solicitor shall hold office on such terms and conditions as may be determined by the Advocate General for Northern Ireland . (3) The Crown Solicitor— (a) must make his services available to any Minister or department of the Government of the United Kingdom; and (b) may make his services available to any Northern Ireland Minister or Northern Ireland department or any other public body or holder of public office. (4) The remuneration of, and other expenses incurred in connection with, the Crown Solicitor shall be defrayed out of moneys provided by Parliament.
Propose a change36 Provisions as to other Northern Ireland officers.
(1) Any appointment on or after the appointed day to the office of— (a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (b) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (c) Civil Service Commissioner for Northern Ireland; (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . shall be made by Her Majesty. (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (5) Her Majesty may by Order in Council make provision with respect to the appointment of lord-lieutenants, lieutenants and deputy lieutenants in Northern Ireland, for conferring on them functions which apart from the Order would be exercisable by lieutenants in Northern Ireland, for altering the designation of vice-lieutenants in Northern Ireland and for matters incidental to or consequential on any provision so made, including the amendment or repeal of any enactment passed before this Act. (6) An Order in Council under subsection (5) above may be varied or revoked by a subsequent Order.
Propose a change37 Provisions as to Joint Exchequer Board and other financial matters.
(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . (2) Any sums which, apart from this Act, would be payable into the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom by virtue of section 22(1) of the Government of Ireland Act 1920 (reserved taxes) shall continue to be so paid; and, subject to subsection (3) below, any sums which, apart from this Act, would be payable into the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland by virtue of section 21(1) of that Act (transferred taxes) shall continue to be so paid. (3) There shall be paid into the Consolidated Fund of the United Kingdom, as from such date as the Treasury may by order direct, the proceeds of any tax specified in the order which would otherwise be paid into the Consolidated Fund of Northern Ireland. (4) The power to make orders under subsection (3) above includes power to vary or revoke a previous order and shall be exercisable by statutory instrument.
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