Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1880-12-20
miscellaneous.
POWERS OF fRR BRITISH QrRRS.


The Queen alone can create \ pcer, a
baronet. or knight, and confer privileges
upon private persons. She alone can
erect corporations, and raise and regulate
fleets and armies. though under such re-
strictions relating TO the appropriation
and expenditure of money as make il Inn.
possible for her to exercise her power Ia
the detriment of English liberty She Il
the head Of the Church; she convenes and
dissolses all ecclesiastical synods and con-
vocations, andnominates 10 vacant Rishop.
rics and other Church offices. She sends
Ambassadors TO foreign States. receives
Ambassadors at home. makes treaties and
alliances. and declares war and pea.e,
though her power in these respects also
is in large degree limited by the power
oi Parliament to enact or reject such laws
as may be necessary to make IL effective.
Previous To the revolution of 1858. the
Government of England was mainly car.
ried on by virtue of what was called the
royal prerogative. that is, by the King iu
person. with the advice of Ministers an
pointed by himself. who were only re-
sponsible TO their sovereign for their man.
agement of public affairs. One OF the re-
suits, however, of that revolution was the
transfer OF the power of the State from the
Crown TO the House OF Commons. Instead
ofa Government by prcrogative. thercwas
then established a Government by Parlia-
ment, from whom all laws must emanate,
requiring only the approval of the Crown
as condition of enactment. As Is well
known, the Queen appoints her own ad-
visers. irrespective of the wishes or ap-
proval of Parliament, and though popular
ly the Ministry is supposed to possess the
whole executive power, no important
measure is presented by them to the con-
sideration of Parliament without her sane
ton and approval. II is not, however es-
sential that all acts and measures should
be presented to Parliament through the
channel of the Ministry. and Parliament
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 ter
inmate its sessions at will. There have
been but two instances in which the Lords
and Commons have met by their own au-
thority, namely. previous TO the restora-
ton of Charles H.. and at the revolution
in 1868. There is one contingency, how
ever. upon which, under authority OF law,
! Parliament may meet without sum-
/ HUNS. u WIS pTtNlueu IN the reign Ot
Anne that in case there should be no Par
lament in being mt the time Of the demise
1of the Crown, tiicr ~.tfe last pFvcecimx
Parliament shall Immediately convene and
sit at Westminster. as if the said Parlia-
ment had never been dissolved Such
Parliament, however, by a statute in the
reign of George H.. can only continue in
existence for six months, II not sooner
| dissplyaH Thie than ;a fbn .>C
the Queen. She may, with the advice Of
her Ministers alone, assemble, prorogue
and dissolve Parliament, declare war, con-
form or dsallow the acts of Colonial Leg
islatures, give effect to treaties, extend
the term of patents, grant chapters of in
corporation to companies or municipal
bodies. create ecclesiastical districts, reg
ulate the Board of Admiralty, and make
appointments to offices in the various ap-
partments 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 oper-
alton of which has been left TO the Queen
and Council, shall be enforced With re-
gard to the expenditure of money. it Is ex-
presslv provided in the act oil settlement.
to which reference has been made, that
| bipbtN itNit' loi hSt vi tte tiOWn,
without grant of Parliament is illegal
Thus the Crown is entirely dependent
upon Parliament for its revenues, but,
though dependent, it has direct control
over all supplies when raised. The Crown
acting with the advice Of its responsible
Ministers. is charged with the manage
ment of all the revenues Of the country,
and with the payments Tor the public ser.
vice. II makes known to the House OF
Commons by its annual budget its neces.
sites. and the House grants such acts OF
supplies as these necessities require. The
Crown demands money. the Commons
grant il, and the Lords assent. and no mon
ey can be voted by Parliament for any
purpose whatever except at the demand ol
the Crown. No petition even for any sum
of money relating to the public service
can be received by Parliament unless rec
commended by the Crown. On the other
hand no person can lend money to the
: Crown. or to any department Of State,
. without the sanction of Parliament and all
:. money transactions between the Bank ol
England and tie Treasury are expressly
: forbidden. The Commons, of course, have
!. the power Of Withholding supplies, but
only once lin I754) since the revolution
Of 1853 has the power been exercised =
!. Harpers's Magazine.