Prerogative instrument
A prerogative instrument is a legal instrument issued under the royal prerogative, in contrast with a Statutory Instrument.
Examples of prerogative instruments include letters patent, royal instructions, Royal [warrant |royal warrant]s, and some orders in council.
In the UK, the use of prerogative instruments has declined considerably both as a result of the transfer of political power from the Sovereign to the British [House of Commons|House of Commons], and with the expanded use since the nineteenth century of delegated legislation under the authority of parliament. An example of a prerogative instrument in Australia is the constitution of the Order of Australia.
Prerogative instruments were often used as the basis for the constitutions of British colonies.