Since the 1973 act abolished the Parliament of Northern Ireland, it replaced the 1949 guarantee with one based on a popular vote rather than a parliamentary vote: A referendum on similar lines had already been held on 8 March 1973, with 98.9% of voters backing the union after a nationalist boycott of the poll.

[1] Part III of the Act dealt with discrimination "on the ground of religious belief or political opinion."

Any existing Act of the Parliament of Northern Ireland, any Measure to be passed by the new Assembly, and any secondary legislation was declared to be void if it discriminated against an individual or "class of persons" on the basis of their religious or political beliefs.

Unlike the position with the parliament, his duties were not transferred to a new role but were mainly absorbed by the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland.

Devolution was only to come into effect if an executive (government) could be formed that had the support of the assembly and that was "likely to be widely accepted throughout the community".