diff --git a/jbmc/src/java_bytecode/java_bytecode_instrument.cpp b/jbmc/src/java_bytecode/java_bytecode_instrument.cpp
index f0aae000897..76ee70ee262 100644
--- a/jbmc/src/java_bytecode/java_bytecode_instrument.cpp
+++ b/jbmc/src/java_bytecode/java_bytecode_instrument.cpp
@@ -604,13 +604,14 @@ void java_bytecode_instrument_uncaught_exceptions(
   const source_locationt &source_location)
 {
   // check that there is no uncaught exception
-  code_assertt assert_no_exception;
-  assert_no_exception.assertion() = equal_exprt(
+  code_assertt assert_no_exception(equal_exprt(
     exc_symbol.symbol_expr(),
-    null_pointer_exprt(to_pointer_type(exc_symbol.type)));
+    null_pointer_exprt(to_pointer_type(exc_symbol.type))));
+
   source_locationt assert_location = source_location;
   assert_location.set_comment("no uncaught exception");
   assert_no_exception.add_source_location() = assert_location;
+
   init_code.move_to_operands(assert_no_exception);
 }
 
diff --git a/src/ansi-c/c_typecheck_code.cpp b/src/ansi-c/c_typecheck_code.cpp
index a591883ad24..e3d3aa9620d 100644
--- a/src/ansi-c/c_typecheck_code.cpp
+++ b/src/ansi-c/c_typecheck_code.cpp
@@ -322,9 +322,8 @@ void c_typecheck_baset::typecheck_decl(codet &code)
     }
     else
     {
-      code_declt code;
+      code_declt code(symbol.symbol_expr());
       code.add_source_location()=symbol.location;
-      code.symbol()=symbol.symbol_expr();
       code.symbol().add_source_location()=symbol.location;
 
       // add initializer, if any
diff --git a/src/ansi-c/c_typecheck_expr.cpp b/src/ansi-c/c_typecheck_expr.cpp
index 4c8b9e838fb..41ca6295f12 100644
--- a/src/ansi-c/c_typecheck_expr.cpp
+++ b/src/ansi-c/c_typecheck_expr.cpp
@@ -461,14 +461,14 @@ void c_typecheck_baset::typecheck_expr_builtin_va_arg(exprt &expr)
 
   implicit_typecast(arg, pointer_type(void_type()));
 
+  symbol_exprt function(ID_gcc_builtin_va_arg, new_type);
+  function.add_source_location() = expr.source_location();
+
   // turn into function call
-  side_effect_expr_function_callt result;
+  side_effect_expr_function_callt result(
+    function, {arg}, new_type.return_type());
+
   result.add_source_location()=expr.source_location();
-  result.function()=symbol_exprt(ID_gcc_builtin_va_arg);
-  result.function().add_source_location()=expr.source_location();
-  result.function().type()=new_type;
-  result.arguments().push_back(arg);
-  result.type()=new_type.return_type();
 
   expr.swap(result);
 
@@ -724,9 +724,8 @@ void c_typecheck_baset::typecheck_expr_operands(exprt &expr)
       throw 0;
     }
 
-    code_declt decl;
+    code_declt decl(symbol.symbol_expr());
     decl.add_source_location()=declaration.source_location();
-    decl.symbol()=symbol.symbol_expr();
 
     expr.op0()=decl;
 
@@ -882,15 +881,13 @@ void c_typecheck_baset::typecheck_side_effect_statement_expression(
 
     code_function_callt &fc=to_code_function_call(last);
 
-    side_effect_expr_function_callt sideeffect;
+    auto return_type =
+      static_cast<const typet &>(fc.function().type().find(ID_return_type));
 
-    sideeffect.function()=fc.function();
-    sideeffect.arguments()=fc.arguments();
+    side_effect_expr_function_callt sideeffect(
+      fc.function(), fc.arguments(), return_type);
     sideeffect.add_source_location()=fc.source_location();
 
-    sideeffect.type()=
-      static_cast<const typet &>(fc.function().type().find(ID_return_type));
-
     expr.type()=sideeffect.type();
 
     if(fc.lhs().is_nil())
diff --git a/src/goto-programs/builtin_functions.cpp b/src/goto-programs/builtin_functions.cpp
index 4960c54602f..dc94036ec6d 100644
--- a/src/goto-programs/builtin_functions.cpp
+++ b/src/goto-programs/builtin_functions.cpp
@@ -324,8 +324,7 @@ void goto_convertt::do_input(
   const exprt::operandst &arguments,
   goto_programt &dest)
 {
-  codet input_code;
-  input_code.set_statement(ID_input);
+  codet input_code(ID_input);
   input_code.operands()=arguments;
   input_code.add_source_location()=function.source_location();
 
@@ -344,8 +343,7 @@ void goto_convertt::do_output(
   const exprt::operandst &arguments,
   goto_programt &dest)
 {
-  codet output_code;
-  output_code.set_statement(ID_output);
+  codet output_code(ID_output);
   output_code.operands()=arguments;
   output_code.add_source_location()=function.source_location();
 
@@ -605,8 +603,7 @@ void goto_convertt::do_array_op(
     throw 0;
   }
 
-  codet array_op_statement;
-  array_op_statement.set_statement(id);
+  codet array_op_statement(id);
   array_op_statement.operands()=arguments;
   array_op_statement.add_source_location()=function.source_location();
 
diff --git a/src/goto-programs/goto_convert.cpp b/src/goto-programs/goto_convert.cpp
index 0dbe67d20b5..81790b3169f 100644
--- a/src/goto-programs/goto_convert.cpp
+++ b/src/goto-programs/goto_convert.cpp
@@ -1990,8 +1990,7 @@ symbolt &goto_convertt::new_tmp_symbol(
     mode,
     symbol_table);
 
-  code_declt decl;
-  decl.symbol()=new_symbol.symbol_expr();
+  code_declt decl(new_symbol.symbol_expr());
   decl.add_source_location()=source_location;
   convert_decl(decl, dest, mode);
 
diff --git a/src/goto-programs/goto_convert_side_effect.cpp b/src/goto-programs/goto_convert_side_effect.cpp
index 1869e906cb7..2aeab13da62 100644
--- a/src/goto-programs/goto_convert_side_effect.cpp
+++ b/src/goto-programs/goto_convert_side_effect.cpp
@@ -390,8 +390,7 @@ void goto_convertt::remove_function_call(
     symbol_table);
 
   {
-    code_declt decl;
-    decl.symbol()=new_symbol.symbol_expr();
+    code_declt decl(new_symbol.symbol_expr());
     decl.add_source_location()=new_symbol.location;
     convert_decl(decl, dest, mode);
   }
@@ -425,8 +424,6 @@ void goto_convertt::remove_cpp_new(
   goto_programt &dest,
   bool result_is_used)
 {
-  codet call;
-
   const symbolt &new_symbol = get_fresh_aux_symbol(
     expr.type(),
     tmp_symbol_prefix,
@@ -435,12 +432,11 @@ void goto_convertt::remove_cpp_new(
     ID_cpp,
     symbol_table);
 
-  code_declt decl;
-  decl.symbol()=new_symbol.symbol_expr();
+  code_declt decl(new_symbol.symbol_expr());
   decl.add_source_location()=new_symbol.location;
   convert_decl(decl, dest, ID_cpp);
 
-  call=code_assignt(new_symbol.symbol_expr(), expr);
+  const code_assignt call(new_symbol.symbol_expr(), expr);
 
   if(result_is_used)
     static_cast<exprt &>(expr)=new_symbol.symbol_expr();
@@ -456,9 +452,7 @@ void goto_convertt::remove_cpp_delete(
 {
   assert(expr.operands().size()==1);
 
-  codet tmp;
-
-  tmp.set_statement(expr.get_statement());
+  codet tmp(expr.get_statement());
   tmp.add_source_location()=expr.source_location();
   tmp.copy_to_operands(expr.op0());
   tmp.set(ID_destructor, expr.find(ID_destructor));
diff --git a/src/goto-programs/remove_function_pointers.cpp b/src/goto-programs/remove_function_pointers.cpp
index 7f1ef61dce2..8a289e5bbe0 100644
--- a/src/goto-programs/remove_function_pointers.cpp
+++ b/src/goto-programs/remove_function_pointers.cpp
@@ -420,9 +420,8 @@ void remove_function_pointerst::remove_function_pointer(
 
   // We preserve the original dereferencing to possibly catch
   // further pointer-related errors.
-  code_expressiont code_expression;
+  code_expressiont code_expression(function);
   code_expression.add_source_location()=function.source_location();
-  code_expression.expression()=function;
   target->code.swap(code_expression);
   target->type=OTHER;
 
diff --git a/src/util/std_code.cpp b/src/util/std_code.cpp
index a280f83d064..1bdd6763ba0 100644
--- a/src/util/std_code.cpp
+++ b/src/util/std_code.cpp
@@ -29,8 +29,7 @@ code_blockt &codet::make_block()
   exprt tmp;
   tmp.swap(*this);
 
-  *this=codet();
-  set_statement(ID_block);
+  *this = codet(ID_block);
   move_to_operands(tmp);
 
   return static_cast<code_blockt &>(*this);
diff --git a/src/util/std_code.h b/src/util/std_code.h
index 422a492896e..99640a12423 100644
--- a/src/util/std_code.h
+++ b/src/util/std_code.h
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ Author: Daniel Kroening, kroening@kroening.com
 class codet:public exprt
 {
 public:
+  DEPRECATED("Use codet(statement) instead")
   codet():exprt(ID_code, typet(ID_code))
   {
   }
@@ -253,6 +254,7 @@ inline code_assignt &to_code_assign(codet &code)
 class code_declt:public codet
 {
 public:
+  DEPRECATED("Use code_declt(symbol) instead")
   code_declt():codet(ID_decl)
   {
     operands().resize(1);
@@ -305,6 +307,7 @@ inline code_declt &to_code_decl(codet &code)
 class code_deadt:public codet
 {
 public:
+  DEPRECATED("Use code_deadt(symbol) instead")
   code_deadt():codet(ID_dead)
   {
     operands().resize(1);
@@ -354,6 +357,7 @@ inline code_deadt &to_code_dead(codet &code)
 class code_assumet:public codet
 {
 public:
+  DEPRECATED("Use code_assumet(expr) instead")
   code_assumet():codet(ID_assume)
   {
     operands().resize(1);
@@ -400,6 +404,7 @@ inline code_assumet &to_code_assume(codet &code)
 class code_assertt:public codet
 {
 public:
+  DEPRECATED("Use code_assertt(expr) instead")
   code_assertt():codet(ID_assert)
   {
     operands().resize(1);
@@ -533,11 +538,19 @@ inline code_ifthenelset &to_code_ifthenelse(codet &code)
 class code_switcht:public codet
 {
 public:
+  DEPRECATED("Use code_switcht(value, body) instead")
   code_switcht():codet(ID_switch)
   {
     operands().resize(2);
   }
 
+  code_switcht(const exprt &_value, const codet &_body) : codet(ID_switch)
+  {
+    operands().resize(2);
+    value() = _value;
+    body() = _body;
+  }
+
   const exprt &value() const
   {
     return op0();
@@ -588,11 +601,19 @@ inline code_switcht &to_code_switch(codet &code)
 class code_whilet:public codet
 {
 public:
+  DEPRECATED("Use code_whilet(cond, body) instead")
   code_whilet():codet(ID_while)
   {
     operands().resize(2);
   }
 
+  code_whilet(const exprt &_cond, const codet &_body) : codet(ID_while)
+  {
+    operands().resize(2);
+    cond() = _cond;
+    body() = _body;
+  }
+
   const exprt &cond() const
   {
     return op0();
@@ -643,11 +664,19 @@ inline code_whilet &to_code_while(codet &code)
 class code_dowhilet:public codet
 {
 public:
+  DEPRECATED("Use code_dowhilet(cond, body) instead")
   code_dowhilet():codet(ID_dowhile)
   {
     operands().resize(2);
   }
 
+  code_dowhilet(const exprt &_cond, const codet &_body) : codet(ID_dowhile)
+  {
+    operands().resize(2);
+    cond() = _cond;
+    body() = _body;
+  }
+
   const exprt &cond() const
   {
     return op0();
@@ -774,6 +803,7 @@ inline code_fort &to_code_for(codet &code)
 class code_gotot:public codet
 {
 public:
+  DEPRECATED("Use code_gotot(label) instead")
   code_gotot():codet(ID_goto)
   {
   }
@@ -947,6 +977,7 @@ inline code_returnt &to_code_return(codet &code)
 class code_labelt:public codet
 {
 public:
+  DEPRECATED("Use code_labelt(label) instead")
   code_labelt():codet(ID_label)
   {
     operands().resize(1);
@@ -1014,6 +1045,7 @@ inline code_labelt &to_code_label(codet &code)
 class code_switch_caset:public codet
 {
 public:
+  DEPRECATED("Use code_switch_caset(case_op, code) instead")
   code_switch_caset():codet(ID_switch_case)
   {
     operands().resize(2);
@@ -1188,6 +1220,7 @@ inline const code_asmt &to_code_asm(const codet &code)
 class code_expressiont:public codet
 {
 public:
+  DEPRECATED("Use code_expressiont(expr) instead")
   code_expressiont():codet(ID_expression)
   {
     operands().resize(1);
@@ -1238,6 +1271,7 @@ inline const code_expressiont &to_code_expression(const codet &code)
 class side_effect_exprt:public exprt
 {
 public:
+  DEPRECATED("Use side_effect_exprt(statement, type) instead")
   explicit side_effect_exprt(const irep_idt &statement):
     exprt(ID_side_effect)
   {
@@ -1301,6 +1335,7 @@ inline const side_effect_exprt &to_side_effect_expr(const exprt &expr)
 class side_effect_expr_nondett:public side_effect_exprt
 {
 public:
+  DEPRECATED("Use side_effect_expr_nondett(statement, type) instead")
   side_effect_expr_nondett():side_effect_exprt(ID_nondet)
   {
     set_nullable(true);
@@ -1352,12 +1387,36 @@ inline const side_effect_expr_nondett &to_side_effect_expr_nondet(
 class side_effect_expr_function_callt:public side_effect_exprt
 {
 public:
+  DEPRECATED("Use side_effect_expr_function_callt(...) instead")
   side_effect_expr_function_callt():side_effect_exprt(ID_function_call)
   {
     operands().resize(2);
     op1().id(ID_arguments);
   }
 
+  side_effect_expr_function_callt(
+    const exprt &_function,
+    const exprt::operandst &_arguments)
+    : side_effect_exprt(ID_function_call)
+  {
+    operands().resize(2);
+    op1().id(ID_arguments);
+    function() = _function;
+    arguments() = _arguments;
+  }
+
+  side_effect_expr_function_callt(
+    const exprt &_function,
+    const exprt::operandst &_arguments,
+    const typet &_type)
+    : side_effect_exprt(ID_function_call, _type)
+  {
+    operands().resize(2);
+    op1().id(ID_arguments);
+    function() = _function;
+    arguments() = _arguments;
+  }
+
   exprt &function()
   {
     return op0();
@@ -1409,6 +1468,7 @@ inline const side_effect_expr_function_callt
 class side_effect_expr_throwt:public side_effect_exprt
 {
 public:
+  DEPRECATED("Use side_effect_expr_throwt(exception_list) instead")
   side_effect_expr_throwt():side_effect_exprt(ID_throw)
   {
   }