A criminal code consolidates existing statute law and incorporates into it the common law as laid down in judicial decisions. The code may be a complete body of law that purports to replace entirely the preexisting law or it may be partial to the extent that certain pre-existing rules remain.
An imperial enactment may be cited by a short title or citation, if any, or by reference to the regnal or calendar year in which it was passed or by the number assigned to any statutory instrument or statutory rule and order.