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 and the arrangements for the suspension or removal of members from office. The relevant document is:

• The General Medical Council (Constitution) Order 2008 (69kb, pdf)

The 2008 Order will be amended with effect from 1 January 2013 by:

• The General Medical Council (Consitution)(Amendment) Order 2012 (48kb, pdf)