Tag Archives: model law

Model Provisions on the Protection of Vulnerable Persons and Persons with Special Needs

There are around six hundred model provisions included in this document. The purpose of the model provisions is to give policy-makers and drafters as many choices as possible as to the potential policy and regulatory elements on the subject in question, without prejudging any decision. The model provisions will, of course, need to be adapted to the legal and policy context in which they are used. In particular, obligations and powers may need to be assigned to authorities and persons other than those set out in the model provisions. The model provisions are intended solely as a source of inspiration and a checklist, without any claim to validity. Continue reading Model Provisions on the Protection of Vulnerable Persons and Persons with Special Needs →

Regulatory Institute: reflecting on the year that was 2022

Two words, collaboration and expansion, best summarise the achievements of the Regulatory Institute these past twelve months. Our core work in researching, writing and sharing for free, good regulatory techniques with lawmaking officials, will benefit countless citizens around the world. Achievements worthy of particular mention include: participation in ten law projects to better control addictive consumer products (alcohol, cannabis and tobacco), collaboration with the Southern Africa Development Community Parliamentary Forum and civil society organisations towards the world’s first Model Law on Public Financial Management, publishing the Model Laws Library and doubling our workforce to reach all corners of the world! Continue reading Regulatory Institute: reflecting on the year that was 2022 →

The Model Laws Library

More than a thousand states and sub-states (jointly called “jurisdictions”) today develop and adopt laws. Considering several hundred policy fields exist that could be supported by laws, there is immeasurable potential for law reform to improve policy outcomes. If we were to make a matrix listing horizontally all the thousand plus jurisdictions adopting laws and vertically, the several hundred policy fields and insert all existing laws into that matrix, by far most of the fields in this matrix would be empty. The fabric of laws is thus very incomplete, including for important policies like the prevention of pandemics. In addition, most of the laws that exist are themselves incomplete, missing important possibilities to pursue their policy goals. This double incompleteness (of the fabric of laws and of the individual laws) hampers policies and creates wide margins for arbitrary decisions, and in some cases corruption. The Regulatory Institute has taken a step to address this double incompleteness by establishing the Model Laws Library and by developing our own model laws. Continue reading The Model Laws Library →

Model Law on Artificial Intelligence

The Model Law on Artificial Intelligence is a continuation of the Regulatory Institute’s popular series of model laws. The scope of the Model Law on AI applies to the development, operation and use of software that constitutes artificial intelligence or of items that use artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence is a relatively new topic of regulation and presents a good opportunity for lawmakers to regulate in a comprehensive way, free from any legacy legislation. Continue reading Model Law on Artificial Intelligence →

Model Law on Alcohol, Cannabis and Tobacco Products

Model laws have existed since the 19th century. They mostly aim to impose or provide suggestions for particular content of law and thus to harmonise laws. Most model laws pre-empt choices. Model laws of the Regulatory Institute are different. The purpose of the model laws elaborated by the Regulatory Institute are to facilitate the tasks of regulatory practitioners, be they working for administrations or parliaments, to improve the quality of laws by triggering more conscious choices. The model laws of the Regulatory Institute should serve as inspiration, as a toolbox, checklist, raw material or a basis for the development of an adapted law and optimised as such. The model laws are not intended to be used exactly as they are drafted. They try to point to important decisions to be taken by the regulatory practitioners without pre-empting respective choices. Often they present choices, either as alternatives, or add-on modules that can be kept or deleted. Continue reading Model Law on Alcohol, Cannabis and Tobacco Products →