Perpetuation of Laws Act 1540
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| Act of Parliament | |
.svg) | |
| Long title | An Act for the Continuation of certain Acts. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 32 Hen. 8. c. 3 |
| Territorial extent | England and Wales |
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 24 July 1540 |
| Commencement | 12 April 1540[a] |
| Repealed | 28 July 1863 |
| Other legislation | |
| Amends | See § Continued enactments |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1863 |
| Relates to | See Expiring laws continuance acts |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The Perpetuation of Laws Act 1540 (32 Hen. 8. c. 3) was an act of the Parliament of England that made perpetual various older enactments.
In the United Kingdom, acts of Parliament remain in force until expressly repealed. Many acts of parliament, however, contained time-limited sunset clauses, requiring legislation to revive enactments that had expired or to continue enactments that would otherwise expire.[1]
Provisions
Continued enactments
Section 1 of the act made the Abjuration, etc. Act 1530 (22 Hen. 8. c. 14), the Benefit of Clergy Act 1531 (23 Hen. 8. c. 1), the Standing Mute, etc. Act 1533 (25 Hen. 8. c. 3), the Buggery Act 1533 (25 Hen. 8. c. 6) and the Abjuration (Benefit of Clergy) Act 1536 (28 Hen. 8. c. 1) perpetual.
Section 2 of the act provided that persons in holy orders who claimed benefit of clergy for felony should be branded on the hand and thereafter subject to the same punishments and forfeitures as laymen.