Provisional Order

Provisional Order is an order granted, under the powers conferred by an act of parliament, by a department of the government, by the Secretary of State, or by some other authority, whereby certain things are authorised to be done which could be accomplished otherwise only by an act of parliament. The order does not receive effect, however, until it has been confirmed by the legislature. Till that time it is purely provisional; and even after it has been so confirmed and is in reality an independent act, it retains the title of a provisional order. Provisional orders are most useful in facilitating the modification or extension of the provisions of general acts, so as to adapt them to the special necessities of particular districts. They may be obtained with much greater expedition and less cost than a private bill; the confirmatory act when unopposed may be obtained in a week or two, and has all the facilities of a government measure.