Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1880-11-27
POWERS OF THE BRITISH QUEEN.

The Queen alone can create a 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 expeldI-
| ture of money as make 1t impossible for her
| to exercise her power to the detrlmens OF
English liberty. She is the head of the
| Church she convenes and dlssolyes all
ecclesiastical synods and convocstions, and
dominates to vacant Bishoprics and other
| Church Offices She sends ambassadors TO.
| foreign states, receives ambassadors at
| home, makes treaties and alliances, and de-
clares war and peace, though her powers
IN these respects also Is IN a large degree
limited by the power of Parliament to enact
or ject such laws as may be necessary TO
make it effective.
| Previous to the Revolution of 1858 the
government of England was mainly car
RED on by virtue of what was called the
royal p1erogative, that is, by the King in
person, with the advice of Ministers ap-
pointed by himself who were only respon,
sible to their sovereign for their manage
nent OF public affairs. One of the results,
however, of that revolution was the trans
fer OF the power of the State from the
Crown to the House of Commons. Instead
of government by prerogative, there was
then established government by Parlia-
nent, from whom all laws must emanate,
requiring oaly 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 popularity 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 approval. 1t is not, how
| ever, essential that all acts and measures
! should be presented to Parliament through
the channel of the Ministry, and Parlia
ment may originate and pass acts at its
pleasure, subject to the constitutional
right of the Queen to nullify them by her
veto. The Queen can convene Parliament
and terminate its sessions az will.
There have been but two instances in
| which Jhe Lords and Commons have met
by their own authority, namely, previous
to the restoration of Charles IL, and at
| the revolution in 1858. There Is one con-
tingency. however, upon which, under au-
thority of law, Parliament may meet with
out summons. 1t was provided in the reign
of Auns that in case there should be no
Parliament in being at the time of the de-
mise of the crown, then g the last preced-
ing Parliament shall Immediately convene
and sit at Westminster, as if the said Par
lament had never been dissolved" Such
q Parliament, however, by statute in the
reign of George ILL, can only continue in
existence for six months, IT not sooner dis
solved.
This, then, is the power of the Queen.
She may. with the advice of her Ministers
alone, assemble prorogue, and dissolve
Parliament, declare war, confirm or dis
allow 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 districts, 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 i'll the came.
and declare the periods at winch certain
acts Of Parliament, the operation of whicu
has been left to the Queen and Council,
| shall be enforced. With regard 70 the ex-
| penditure of money, 1t Is expressly pro-
| vided in the act of settlement, to Yi1Ica
reference has been made, that money
/ levied for the use OF the Crown withcu.
grant of Parliament is illegal. Thus the
crown is entirely dependent upon Pariia-
ment for its revenues, but, though
dependent, it has direct control
over all supplies when raised. Tue
Crown, acting with the advice of its
responsible Ministers, is charged with the
management of all the revenues of the
country, and with all payments for the pub
lie service. 1t makes known to the House
| of Commons by its annual budget its ne
cessities, and the House grants such acts
or supplies as these necessities require.
The Grown demands money, the Commons
grant it, and the Lords assent, and no
money can be voted by Parliament for any
purpose whatever except at the demand of
the Crown. No petition even for any sum
of money relating to the public service
can be received by Parliament unless re-
commended by the Crown. On the other
hand, no person can lend money to the
Crown, CT to any department OF state
without the sanction of Parliament, and
all money transactions between the Bank
of England and the treasury are expressly |
forbidden. The Commons of course, have I
the power of Withholding supplies, but
only once lin 1854 since the revolution Of
1858 has this power been exercised.