, 1880-12-26
THE BRITISH QUEEN.
What Powers She Possesses.


The Queen alone can create Peer, Bar
oner, or Knight, and confer privileges upon
private persons. She alone can erect cor
porations and raise and regulate fleets and
armies, though under such restrictions re
lating to the appropriation and expenditure
Of money as make it impossible for her to
exercise her power to the detriment OF En-
glish liberty. She is the head Of the Church;
she convenes and dissoiyes all ecclesiastical
synods and conv0cati0ns, and noninateS to
vacant Blsl,oprics and other CHURCH offices.
She sends Ambassadors TO foreign States, re-
.ceiyes Ambassadors ut home, makes treaties
and alliances, and declares war and peace,
though her power in these respects also IS in
q large degree limited b.. the power In Par
/ Lament to enact or reject such laws as may
be necessary to make it effective.
Previous to the revolution Of 1888 the Gov
ernment Of England was mainly carried on
by virtue of what was called the Royal pre-
Wiz VIII Tie advice Of ministers appointed BY
himself, who were only responsible to their
sovereign for their management of pHblic
affairs. One Of the results, however, Of that
the State from the Crown to the House Of
Commons Instead of o Government by pre-
rogative there was then established Gov
ernluent BY Parliament. from whom all laws
Of the Crown as . condition Of their enact
ment. As Is well known, the Queen appoints
her own advisers, Irrespective Ut the wishes
or approval OF Parliament. and though pOpu-
whole executive power, no Important meas
ure is presented by them to the considera-
ton Ut Parliament without her sanction and
approval. It is not however, essential that
Parliament through the channel Of the Min
istry, and Parliament may originate and pass
acts at its pleasure, subject to the consiitu-
tional right Of the Queen to nullify them by
her veto.
The Queen can convene Parliament and
terminate it's sessions at will. There have
been but two instances in which the Lords
| and Commons have met By their own author
Of Charles IL, and at the revolution In 1868.
There is, one contingency, however, upon
which, under authority ot law, Parliament
may meet without summons It was proyid-
ea in the reign Of Anne that in case there
should be TO Parliament In being at the time
| Of the demise OF the Crown. then 1.-THE last
| preceding Parliament shall immediately coil-
! Yene and sit ut Westminster, as il the said
Parliament had never been dissolved" Such
reign Of George I'LL, can only continue in
| existence for six months, II not sooner dis
| solved. This, then, Is the power Of the
| Queen. She may, with the advice of her
Ministers alone, assemble, prorosuc. and dis
! disallow the acts OF Colonial Legislatures,
! give effect tU treaties, extend the term of
/ patents, grant charters OF Incorporation to
| companies or municipal bodies, create cccle-
| mlrllty, and make appointments to Office in
t the various departments Of State, create new
offices, and define the qualifications uf per-
sons to till the same, and declare the periods
| at which certain acts ut Parliament, the op-
| Grafton Of which has been I2ft to the Queen
and Council, shall be enforced.
! With regard to the expenditure of money.
it is expressly provided in the act Of Settle.
I Fur v1rfs f~ns hux,S