Governance of the GMC
The Medical Act 1983 sets out the basic legislative framework for the governance of the GMC.
This includes things like:
- the composition of the Council,
- how individuals become members of the Council and
- the registration of members’ private interests.
- information about and the powers, duties and proceedings of the Council and the different committees through which the Council carries out much of its work.
Although the Act provides the basic framework, much of the detail of how things operate is described in separate statutory instruments. Like the Act itself, these have the force of law.
Constitution Order
The Constitution Order deals with matters such as the size and composition of the Council of the GMC and the terms of office of Council members. The relevant documents are:
- The General Medical Council (Constitution) Order 2002
- The General Medical Council (Constitution) (Amendment) Order 2007(234kb,
pdf)
The 2007 Order makes some minor amendments to the 2002 Order to deal with the transitional period until the current Council is re-constituted at the beginning of 2009.
Suspension and removal of members from office
Statutory rules set out the circumstances in which members may be removed from office and the arrangements for doing this.
View the General Medical Council (Suspension and Removal of Members from Office) Rules Order of Council 2004 (OPSI website) 
(external site - opens in a new window).