{
  "url": "https://openlegislation.uk/political-parties-elections-and-referendums-act-2000/section-156",
  "json_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/political-parties-elections-and-referendums-act-2000/section-156.json",
  "legislation": "ukpga/2000/41",
  "legislation_title": "Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000",
  "legislation_url": "https://openlegislation.uk/political-parties-elections-and-referendums-act-2000",
  "path": "section/156",
  "kind": "section",
  "number": "156",
  "heading": "Orders and regulations.",
  "text": "(1) Any power of the Secretary of State or the Welsh Ministers to make any order or regulations under this Act shall be exercised by statutory instrument.\n(2) Subject to subsections (3) to (4A),\n(a) a statutory instrument containing any order or regulations made under this Act by the Secretary of State shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of either House of Parliament;\n(b) a statutory instrument containing any order or regulations made under this Act by the Welsh Ministers shall be subject to annulment in pursuance of a resolution of Senedd Cymru.\n(3) Subsection (2) does not apply to—\n(za) an order under section 100B(8);\n(zb) an order under section 100C(8);\n(a) any order under ... 163(2) or paragraph 14(7) of Schedule 1; ...\n(aa) any order under paragraph 3(7) of Schedule 8 ...;\n(b) any order made in pursuance of section 155(2)(a).\n(4) Subsection (2) also does not apply to any order under—\n(a) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(b) section 51(4),\n(c) section 67(1),\n(ca) any provision of Chapter 6 of Part 4;\n(d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .\n(da) section 71F(13),\n(db) section 71H(4),\n(dc) section 71U(1),\n(dd) any provision of Chapter 2 of Part 4A,\n(de) section 88(9),\n(df) section 88(11),\n(e) section 101(4),\n(f) section 108(3),\n(g) section 109(6),\n(h) section 129,\n(ha) paragraph 9 of Schedule 6A,\n(i) paragraph 3(4) of Schedule 7,\n(ia) paragraph 2(9) or 4(4) of Schedule 7A,\n(j) paragraph 4 of Schedule 8,\n(ja) paragraph 4 of Schedule 8A,\n(k) paragraph 3(4) of Schedule 11,\n(l) paragraph 4 of Schedule 13,\n(m) paragraph 2 of Schedule 14, or\n(n) paragraph 3(4) of Schedule 15;\nand no such order shall be made (whether alone or with other provisions) unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the order has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament (in the case of an order made by the Secretary of State) or (in the case of an order made by the Welsh Ministers) a draft of the statutory instrument containing the order has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, Senedd Cymru.\n(4A) An order under paragraph 16 of Schedule 19C that contains—\n(a) provision made by virtue of paragraph 1(1), (2), (3), (4) or (5), paragraph 5(1), (2), (3) or (4), paragraph 10(2)(b) or (3)(b) or paragraph 15(1)(a) of that Schedule, or\n(b) provision amending an Act,\nshall not be made unless a draft of the statutory instrument containing the order has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, each House of Parliament (in the case of an order made by the Secretary of State) or (in the case of an order made by the Welsh Ministers) a draft of the statutory instrument containing the order has been laid before, and approved by a resolution of, Senedd Cymru; and subsection (2) does not apply to such an order.\n(4B) Subject to subsections (4C) and (4D), any order or regulations made under this Act by the Scottish Ministers shall be subject to the negative procedure (see section 28 of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010).\n(4C) Subsection (4B) does not apply to an order under section 100BA(8) or an order falling within subsection (3)(a) or (b).\n(4D) Subsection (4B) does not apply to any regulations under section 88(11) or an order falling within subsection (4), and any such regulations or orders made by the Scottish Ministers shall be subject to the affirmative procedure (see section 29 of the Interpretation and Legislative Reform (Scotland) Act 2010).\n(5) Any order or regulations made by the Secretary of State , the Welsh Ministers, or the Scottish Ministers under this Act may—\n(a) contain such consequential, incidental, supplementary or transitional provisions or savings (including provisions amending, repealing or revoking enactments) as the Secretary of State , the Welsh Ministers, or the Scottish Ministers considers appropriate; and\n(b) make different provision for different cases.\n(6) Nothing in this Act shall be read as affecting the generality of subsection (5) (including that subsection as applied by section 19(9)).\n(7) Paragraphs 21 to 23 of Schedule 1 contain provisions relating to regulations made by the Commission.",
  "extent": "E+W+S+N.I.",
  "status": null,
  "version": "current",
  "annotations": [
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F1",
      "text": "Words in s. 156(1) inserted (1.1.2025) by Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 (asc 5), ss. 34(2)(a), 72(4); S.I. 2024/1337, art. 2(l)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F2",
      "text": "Words in s. 156(2) substituted (1.12.2010) by Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 (c. 12), s. 43(1), Sch. 6 para. 25; S.I. 2010/2866, art. 3(d)(g)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F3",
      "text": "Words in s. 156(2) renumbered as s. 156(2)(a) (1.1.2025) by Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 (asc 5), ss. 34(2)(b)(i), 72(4); S.I. 2024/1337, art. 2(l)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F4",
      "text": "S. 156(2)(b) inserted (1.1.2025) by Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 (asc 5), ss. 34(2)(b)(ii), 72(4); S.I. 2024/1337, art. 2(l)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F5",
      "text": "S. 156(3)(za) inserted (24.11.2022) by Elections Act 2022 (c. 37), ss. 29(2), 67(1); S.I. 2022/1226, reg. 2(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F6",
      "text": "S. 156(3)(zb) inserted (1.1.2025) by Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 (asc 5), ss. 38(5), 72(4); S.I. 2024/1337, art. 2(m)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F7",
      "text": "Words in s. 156(3)(a) repealed (1.4.2010) by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20), ss. 146(3), 148(3), Sch. 7 Pt. 3; S.I. 2009/3318, art. 4(hh)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F8",
      "text": "Word in s. 156(3) omitted (24.11.2022) by virtue of Elections Act 2022 (c. 37), ss. 21(2)(a), 67(1); S.I. 2022/1226, reg. 2(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F9",
      "text": "S. 156(3)(aa) inserted (24.11.2022) by Elections Act 2022 (c. 37), ss. 21(2)(b), 67(1); S.I. 2022/1226, reg. 2(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F10",
      "text": "Words in s. 156(3)(aa) omitted (1.1.2025) by Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 (asc 5), ss. 34(2)(c), 72(4); S.I. 2024/1337, art. 2(l)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F11",
      "text": "S. 156(4)(a) repealed (1.4.2010) by Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 (c. 20), ss. 146(3), 148(3), Sch. 7 Pt. 3; S.I. 2009/3318, art. 4(hh)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F12",
      "text": "S. 156(4)(ca) inserted (1.11.2007) by Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 33), ss. 10(2)(b), 13(1), 31(2)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F13",
      "text": "S. 156(4)(d) repealed (25.9.2006) by Northern Ireland (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 2006 (c. 33), ss. 10(2)(a), 11(8)(a)(iii), 30(2), 31(2)(4), Sch. 5"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F14",
      "text": "S. 156(4)(da)-(dc) inserted (11.9.2006 for E.W.S. for certain purposes, 1.7.2008 for N.I. and otherwise prosp.) by Electoral Administration Act 2006 (c. 22), ss. 61(4)(a), 77(2); S.I. 2006/1972, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 20(a) (subject to art. 4, Sch. 2) (as substituted by S.I. 2006/2268, art. 3); S.I. 2008/1656, art. 2 (subject to art. 3, Sch. 1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F15",
      "text": "S. 156(4)(dd) inserted (1.7.2008) by The Electoral Administration Act 2006 (Regulation of Loans etc: Northern Ireland) Order 2008 (S.I. 2008/1319), arts. 1(2), 4(1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F16",
      "text": "S. 156(4)(de) inserted (24.11.2022) by Elections Act 2022 (c. 37), ss. 27(2), 67(1); S.I. 2022/1226, reg. 2(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F17",
      "text": "S. 156(4)(df) inserted (1.1.2025) by Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 (asc 5), ss. 37(3), 72(4); S.I. 2024/1337, art. 2(l)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F18",
      "text": "S. 156(4)(ha) inserted (11.9.2006 for E.W.S. for certain purposes, 1.7.2008 for N.I. and otherwise prosp.) by Electoral Administration Act 2006, (c. 22), {ss. 61(4)(b)}, 77(2); S.I. 2006/1972, art. 3, Sch. 1 para. 20(a) (subject to art. 4, Sch. 2) (as substituted by S.I. 2006/2268, art. 3); S.I. 2008/1656, art. 2 (subject to art. 3, Sch. 1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F19",
      "text": "S. 156(4)(ia) inserted (11.9.2006 for E.W.S. for certain purposes, 1.7.2008 for N.I. and otherwise prosp.) by Electoral Administration Act 2006, (c. 22), ss. 61(7), 77(2), {Sch. 1 para. 100}; S.I. 2006/1972, art. 3, Sch. 1 paras. 20(a), 25(m)(i) (subject to art. 4, Sch. 2) (as amended by 2006/2268, art. 4); S.I. 2008/1656, art. 2 (subject to art. 3, Sch. 1)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F20",
      "text": "S. 156(4)(ja) inserted (30.1.2014) by Transparency of Lobbying, Non-Party Campaigning and Trade Union Administration Act 2014 (c. 4), ss. 26(13), 45(3)(b) (with s. 46(1)(2))"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F21",
      "text": "Words in s. 156(4) inserted (1.1.2025) by Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 (asc 5), ss. 34(2)(d), 72(4); S.I. 2024/1337, art. 2(l)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F22",
      "text": "S. 156(4A) inserted (1.12.2010) by Political Parties and Elections Act 2009 (c. 12), ss. 3(4), 43(1); S.I. 2010/2866, art. 3(c) (with art. 6)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F23",
      "text": "Words in s. 156(4A) inserted (1.1.2025) by Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 (asc 5), ss. 34(2)(e), 72(4); S.I. 2024/1337, art. 2(l)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F24",
      "text": "S. 156(4B)-(4D) inserted (18.5.2017) by Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 7(12), 72(4)(a); S.I. 2017/608, reg. 2(1)(e)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F25",
      "text": "Words in s. 156(4C) inserted (S.) (14.4.2025) by Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025 (asp 4), ss. 25(4), 73(2); S.S.I. 2025/106, reg. 2(1)(a), sch. Pt. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F26",
      "text": "Words in s. 156(4C) substituted (24.11.2022) by Elections Act 2022 (c. 37), ss. 21(3), 67(1); S.I. 2022/1226, reg. 2(c)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F27",
      "text": "Words in s. 156(4D) inserted (S.) (14.4.2025) by Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025 (asp 4), ss. 22(3)(a), 73(2); S.S.I. 2025/106, reg. 2(1)(a), sch. Pt. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F28",
      "text": "Words in s. 156(4D) substituted (S.) (14.4.2025) by Scottish Elections (Representation and Reform) Act 2025 (asp 4), ss. 22(3)(b), 73(2); S.S.I. 2025/106, reg. 2(1)(a), sch. Pt. 1"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F29",
      "text": "Words in s. 156(5) inserted (1.1.2025) by Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 (asc 5), ss. 34(2)(f)(i), 72(5); S.I. 2024/1337, art. 2(l)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F30",
      "text": "Words in s. 156(5) inserted (18.5.2017) by Scotland Act 2016 (c. 11), ss. 7(13), 72(4)(a); S.I. 2017/608, reg. 2(1)(e)"
    },
    {
      "type": "F",
      "label": "F31",
      "text": "Words in s. 156(5)(a) inserted (1.1.2025) by Elections and Elected Bodies (Wales) Act 2024 (asc 5), ss. 34(2)(f)(ii), 72(5); S.I. 2024/1337, art. 2(l)"
    }
  ],
  "outstanding_effects": [],
  "provenance": {
    "source": "legislation.gov.uk",
    "source_url": "https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/41/section/156",
    "retrieved_at": "2026-10-29T09:20:25.524976+00:00"
  },
  "licence": "Open Government Licence v3.0",
  "licence_url": "https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/",
  "attribution": "Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives."
}