---
title: "Trace the delegation and authorisation behind a decision"
url: "https://ailawframework.com/practice/administrative-and-public-law/trace-the-delegation-and-authorisation-behind-a-decision"
type: "task"
site: "AI Law Framework"
id: "A31-X20260927-7"
practice_area: "Administrative & Public Law"
tier: "yellow"
lawyer_review: "required"
last_reviewed: "2026-10-22"
---

# Trace the delegation and authorisation behind a decision

> Draft the trace from the instruments and position records the lawyer supplies: the conferring provision, each delegation or authorisation with its commencement and any repeal or replacement, the version in force on the…

Canonical page: https://ailawframework.com/practice/administrative-and-public-law/trace-the-delegation-and-authorisation-behind-a-decision  
Last reviewed: 2026-10-22

Site index for agents: https://ailawframework.com/llms.txt

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Practice area | [Administrative & Public Law](https://ailawframework.com/practice/administrative-and-public-law.md) |
| Human involvement | Yellow: Lawyer and AI draft together |
| How AI is used | Draft the trace from the instruments and position records the lawyer supplies: the conferring provision, each delegation or authorisation with its commencement and any repeal or replacement, the version in force on the decision date, and the position held by the person who decided. Flag any link with no instrument, an instrument made after the decision, and any decision made at a level the instrument does not cover. |
| What the lawyer must review | The lawyer verifies each instrument against the register or the agency's records, confirms the point-in-time version, and decides whether an express delegation, a statutory authorisation or the Carltona principle is what supports the decision. |
| Written for / versions | 1 jurisdiction versions below |

## Checking plan

**Source-by-source verification**

Trace relied-on content to independent sources and check for relevant material the output has missed.

- What the AI does: Draft the trace from the instruments and position records the lawyer supplies: the conferring provision, each delegation or authorisation with its commencement and any repeal or replacement, the version in force on the decision date, and the position held by the person who decided. Flag any link with no instrument, an instrument made after the decision, and any decision made at a level the instrument does not cover.
- What the lawyer does: The lawyer verifies each instrument against the register or the agency's records, confirms the point-in-time version, and decides whether an express delegation, a statutory authorisation or the Carltona principle is what supports the decision.
- Who reviews: Responsible lawyer with competence in the matter
- Basis: Practical workflow informed by the linked primary sources; the traffic light and working checks are editorial guidance, not a court classification.
- Why: The level reflects what the work is, the consequence of an error, and how much of the output the lawyer must independently re-derive.

## Checks the lawyer makes

1. Confirm the instructions, the jurisdiction and the complete relevant material before starting.
2. The lawyer verifies each instrument against the register or the agency's records, confirms the point-in-time version, and decides whether an express delegation, a statutory authorisation or the Carltona principle is what supports the decision.
3. Check the output against the source documents named in it before it is relied on.

## Notes

- These are suggested working checks. Confirm the required checking with the responsible lawyer before work starts; the checking approach does not establish permission to use AI.

## Sources

- [https://www.ags.gov.au/publications/legal-briefing/lb-20220616](https://www.ags.gov.au/publications/legal-briefing/lb-20220616) (checked 2026-09-27)
- [https://www.ags.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-06/lb-DelegationsAuthorisationsAndTheCarltonaPrinciple.pdf](https://www.ags.gov.au/sites/default/files/2022-06/lb-DelegationsAuthorisationsAndTheCarltonaPrinciple.pdf) (checked 2026-09-27)

## Jurisdiction versions

| Jurisdiction | Level |
| --- | --- |
| [United States](https://ailawframework.com/practice/administrative-and-public-law/trace-the-delegation-and-authorisation-behind-a-decision/united-states.md) | Yellow |

*Practice guidance for planning and review. Confirm current primary sources and the requirements of the actual matter. This is general information, not legal advice.*