Drafting Do's and Don'ts
This voice should be used "to the greatest extent possible" when drafting legislation, as it clearly identifies who is required to act.
What is active voice?
Use this punctuation in whole numbers comprising four or more digits.
What is a comma?
This is the first part of a bill's title that appears in the first line of the bill heading.
What is a short title?
When referring to another section within the same section, use this phrase without capitalization.
What is "this section"?
Definitions are always placed in this order within a section.
What is alphabetical order?
Instead of using complex phrases like 'provided that,' simply say this word.
What is 'except'?
Never use this phrase when referring to time of day. Use 'a.m.' or 'p.m.' instead.
What is 'o'clock'?
This clause appears at the beginning of the body of a bill and starts with 'Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:'
What is the enacting clause?
This is the preferred phrase when referring to another provision, rather than "prescribed in" or "listed in.
What is "described in"?
Definitions begin with this word, followed by the definition of the term or phrase.
What is "means"?
This word meaning "an action is required or mandatory" should be used instead of "is empowered to" or "has the duty to.
What is "shall"?
Always express this using Arabic numerals, even if under nine.
What is population?
This portion of a bill starts with 'This bill:' followed by bulleted statements highlighting main provisions. "
What are highlighted provisions?
Citations to federal regulations should be to this publication, abbreviated C.F.R.
What is the Code of Federal Regulations?
This section of the Utah Code contains definitions that are applicable to the entire Utah Code unless otherwise specified.
What is Section 68-3-12.5?
Avoid using imprecise pronouns like 'it,' 'them,' or 'her.' Instead, do this.
What is restate the noun?
Use these precise terms instead of vague phrases like 'to,' 'until,' 'by,' or 'between' when referring to time periods.
What are 'after' and 'before'?
This process is used when so many changes are made to an existing section that very little of the original text will remain.
What is repealing and reenacting?
When citing to the Utah Constitution, cite by these two elements.
What are article and section?
Never draft one of these where the first provision relies on the second to describe its meaning and vice versa.
What is a circular definition?
This archaic word meaning "properly" or "sufficiently" should almost never be used in legislative drafting.
What is "duly"?
This word means every two years, not to be confused with "biannually" which means twice a year.
What is "biennially"?
According to Utah Constitution Article VI, Section 22, no bill shall be passed containing more than this number of subjects.
What is one?
This Latin phrase meaning "and the following" may be used in citing federal law but not Utah Code.
What is "et seq."?
When using "include," "includes," or "including," never add this phrase that Utah Code strongly discourages.
What is "but not limited to"?