Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1880-11-19

Power. Of the nrl,I.h ouscn.

The Queen alone can create peer, baronet,
or knight, and confer privileges on private
persons. She alone can erect corporations
and raise and regulate fleets and armies,
though under such restrictions relating to the
appropriation and expenditure of money as
make it impossible for her to exercise her
power to the detriment of English liberty
She is the head of the Church she convenes
and dssolves all ecclesiastical synods and con-
vocations and nominates to vacant bishoprcs
and other Church offices. She sends am-
bassadors to foreign states receives ambassa-
dors at home, makes treaties and alliances,
and declares war and peace, though her pow
er in these respects also is in large degree
limited by the power Of parliament to enact
or reject such laws as may be necessary to
make it effective.
Previous to the Revolution of 1858 the gov
ernment of England was mainly carried on
by virtue of what WAS called the royal pre-
rogative, that is, by the King in person, with
the advice of ministers appointed by himself,
who were only responsible to their sovereign
for their management Of public affairs. One
of the results, however, of that revolution
was the transfer of the power of the state
from the crown to the House of Commons.
Instead of a government by prerogative, there
was then established government by Parlia-
ment, from whom all laws must emanate, re-
quiring only the approval Of the crown as
condition of their enactment
As is well known, the Queen appoints her
own advisers, irrespective of the wishes or
approval of Parliament, and though popular
y the Ministry is supposed TO possess the
whole executive power, no important measure
is presented by them to the consideration OF
Parliament without her sanction and approx
al 1t is not, however, essential that all acts
and measures should be presented to Parlia-
INT 4brnroh he Oh of he inta
and Parliament may originate and pass acts
at its pleasure, subject to the constitutional
right of the Queen 10 nullify them by her
veto. The Queen can convene Parliament
| and terminate its sessions at will.
There have been but two instances in
which the Lords and Commons have met by
their own authority namely, previous to the
restoration of Charles H., and at the Revolu-
| ton in 1888 There is one contingency, how
ever, upon which, under authority of law,
! Parliament may meet without summons 1t
was provided in the reign of Anne that in
case there should be no Parliament in being
at the time of the demise of the crown, then
| ''the last preceding Parliament shall imme-
| diately convene and sit at Westminster, as if
the said Parliament had never been dissolved -
| Such Parliament however by statute in the
reign of George Ill, can only continue in ex-
istence for six months, if not sooner dissolv-
| ed
This, then, is the power of the Queen
| She may with the advice of her Ministers
alone, assemble, prorogue, and dissolve Par
lament, declare war, confirm or disallow the
acts of colonial Legislatures, give effect to
| treaties, extend the term of patents, grant
| charters of incorporation to companies or
| municipal bodies, create ecclesiastical dis
tricts, regulate the Board of Admiralty, and
make appointments to offices in the various
departments Of the state, create new offices
and define the qualifications of persons to fill
the same, and declare the periods at which
| certain acts of Parliament. the operation of
which has been left to the Queen and Coun-
Gil, shall be enforced. With regard to the
expenditure of money, it is expressly provid-
| ed in the act of settlement, to which refer
| ence has been made, that money levied for
| the use of the crown without grant of Parlia-
| ment is illegal. Thus the crown is entirely
dependent upon Parliament for its revenues
but, though dependent, it has direct con
troll over all supplies when raised. The
crown, acting with the advice of its RESPONSE
BILE ministers, is charged with the manage
ment of the revenues of the country, and
with all payments for the public service. 1t
makes known to the House of Commons by
| its annual budget its necessities, and the
| House grants such acts or supplies as these
necessities require. The crown demands
money, the Commons grant it, and the Lords
assent, and no money can be voted by Psrlis-
ment for any purpose whatever except at the
demand of the crown. No petition for any
sum of money relating to the public service
can be received by Parliament unless recon-
mended by the crown. On the other hand,
no person can lend money to the crown, or
TO any department of state without the sane
tiOn of Parliament, and all money transac-
| tions between the Bank of England and the
Treasury are expressly forbidden. The Com
MONS of course, have the power of withhold
ing supplies, but only once lin 1880 since
the Revolution of 1858 has this power been
exercised.-W T. Daois in Hdrper's Maya
zine for December