A well-drafted statute expresses the legislature's intent as precisely and readably as the English language permits.
Good draftsmanship is simply good writing.
A well-drafted statute is distinguished by clarity, economical use of language, logical organization, and adherence to generally recognized standards of grammar and usage. 1 The Texas Legislative Council staff follows the rules of standard American English style and grammar in drafting legislative documents. The purpose of this chapter is to ensure consistency in instances where more than one style is considered correct or where the unique characteristics of legislative documents require a deviation from the generally accepted standards. The rules in this chapter should usually be adhered to, but when current law is being amended, the style of the statute being amended should be followed. These rules are not meant to be applied arbitrarily, although a drafter should not deviate from them without good reason.