在英國法律中,成文法則[1](英語:enactment)可指整部法例或法例之一部分,或指根據某項法例制定的法律文書之全部或部分。
在Wakefield Light Railways Company v Wakefield Corporation一案中,法官指出:「成文法則」與「法令」(act)涵義不同;「法令」是指整部法令,而法令的某一條或該條之一部分則須稱作「成文法則」。[2]
在Rathbone v Bundock一案中,法官指出:在某些情況下,「成文法則」的涵義不僅包括法規(statute),還包括法定文書;在《1960年道路交通法令》中則未必如此,例如該法令第269條及附表18就對「成文法則」與「法定文書」有所區分。[3]
香港《釋義及通則條例》第3條則訂明,「成文法則(enactment)的涵義與條例的涵義相同」。[1]
- 成文法(statute law)
- 法規(statute)
- 法令(act)
- 法定文書(statutory instrument)
- James, John S. "Enactment". Stroud's Judicial Dictionary of Words and Phrases. Fourth Edition. Sweet & Maxwell. London. 1972. Volume 2. Pages 900 to 901.
- Lord Hailsham of St. Marylebone (editor in chief). Halsbury's Laws of England. Fourth Edition. Reissue. 1995. Butterworths. London. 1995. Volume 44(1). Paragraph 1232 at page 727.
- Halsbury's Laws. Third Edition. Volume 36. Page 362.
- Reshi, Ravinder (editor). The Digest: Annotated British, Commonwealth and European Cases. 1997 2nd reissue. Butterworth & Co (Publishers) Ltd. London. 1997. Volume 45. Pages 384 to 405.
- Saunders, John B (General editor). "Enactment". Words and Phrases Legally Defined. Second Edition. Butterworths. London. 1969. Reprinted 1974. SBN 406 08030 5 (for the complete set of volumes). Volume 2. SBN 406 08032 1 (for this volume). Page 159.
- Saunders, John B (General editor). Words and Phrases Legally Defined: Supplement 1986. Second Edition. Butterworths. London. 1986. ISBN 0 406 08061 5. Page 118.
Wakefield Light Railways Company v Wakefield Corporation [1906] 2 KB 140; affirmed [1907] 2 KB 256, CA; sub nom Wakefield Corporation v Wakefield and District Light Railways Company [1908] AC 293, HL
Rathbone v Bundock [1962] 2 QB 260 at 273, also reported in [1962] 2 All ER 257 at 259