TABULAR VIEW OF THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF GREAT BRITAIN-continued.

Internal dissension in the cabinet

Ministerial defeat in House of Commons 1830, July 24 The demise of the crown by death
on November 15, 1830, on the Civil
List

of George IV.

N.B. This ministry resigned on May 8, 1832, be- 1832, Dec. 3
cause the king would not consent to create a batch
of peers, in order to carry the Reform Bill in the
House of Lords. The Duke of Wellington was
empowered to form a new ministry, but failed in
the attempt. On May 17 the king recalled the
Grey Ministry, and gave them written authority to
create as many peers as might be necessary to en-
sure the passing of the Reform Bill

Dismissed by the king, who disapproved
of the politics of ministers

1834
Nov. 12

16 SIR ROBERT PEEL (His first administration)

Tory

1834 Nov.

1835 April 8

feats in that House

To admit of the enlarged repre-
sentative system being put into
immediate operation.

Inability to control the House of Com- 1834, Dec. 30 With a view to obtain a House of

mons, and consequent ministerial de

Commons that would give the king's new ministers 'a fair trial.'

No.

Name of Prime Minister

character
of the

Date of
Appointment

Date of
Resignation

TABULAR VIEW OF THE ADMINISTRATIONS OF GREAT BRITAIN-continued.

Political

Cause of Retirement of the Ministry

Ministry

or
Dismissal

Dissolutions of
Parliament
during
this period

Reasons for which Parliament was dissolved

Ministerial defeat in House of Commons 1852, July 1 To take the sense of the country
on the questions of free-trade and
on December 16, 1852, on the Budget
the corn laws.

Internal dissensions, incompetency, and
defeat in the House of Commons on
January 29, on appointment of Sebas-
topol Committee

Rejection by the House of Commons on 1857, March 21 On account of the vote of censure
February 19, 1858, of the Conspiracy
to Murder Bill, and vote of censure
against ministers in reference to that

measure

by the House of Commons on March 3, 1857, upon the conduct of affairs in China.

Vote of want of confidence by the House 1859, April 23 The ministerial Reform Bill hav-
of Commons on June 9, 1859, in amend-
ment to the Address in answer to the
Speech from the Throne

The death of the premier

Ministerial defeat in the House of Com

mons on June 18, 1866, on the Repre-
sentation of the People Bill

ing been rejected by the House
of Commons on March 31, 1859,
ministers resolved to appeal to
the country. But the issue they
raised at the hustings was upon
the general policy of the govern-
ment, irrespective of their views
on the question of reform.

.1865, July 6 On account of the termination of
the seventh session of this Par-
liament.

167

CHAPTER IV.

THE SOVEREIGN.

of the

THE supreme executive authority of the state in all Supremacy matters, civil and military, together with jurisdiction and sovereign. supremacy over all causes and persons ecclesiastical in the realm, belongs to the sovereign of the British Empire, by virtue of his kingly office; for he is the fountain of all state authority, dignity, and honour, and the source of all political jurisdiction therein. He is also the head of the Imperial Legislature, which derives its existence from the crown, and a component part of every local legislature throughout his dominions. In all that concerns the outward life of the empire, and its relations with other countries or provinces, the sovereign is the visible representative of the state. It is his especial prerogative to declare war and to make peace, and also to contract alliances with foreign nations.

of the king

Preeminence, perfection, and perpetuity are acknow- Perpetuity ledged attributes of the Crown of England in its political ly office. capacity. The crown is hereditary, but in the eye of the law the king never dies.' The decease of a reigning monarch is usually termed his demise; which signifies that, in consequence of the disunion of the king's natural body from his body-politic, the kingdom is transferred or demised to his successor, and so the royal dignity remains perpetual.*

After their accession to the throne in the natural order, the sovereigns of England are consecrated to their high

Broom's Legal Maxims, 4th ed. pp. 48, 51.

Corona

tion.

Personal irresponsi

office in the solemnity of a royal coronation at Westminster Abbey. This rite is performed by the Archbishop of Canterbury, assisted by other prelates of the English Church, in the presence of the nobility. By this solemn act the Divine sanction is imparted to the English monarchy, and the whole fabric of our political and social order is strengthened and confirmed."

From the supreme dignity and preeminence of the bility of the crown, it naturally follows that the king is personally sovereign. amenable to no earthly tribunal whatsoever, because all tribunals in the realm are presumed to derive their authority from him, and none are empowered to exercise authority or jurisdiction over him. The royal person, moreover, is by law sacred and inviolable, and the sovereign is personally irresponsible for all acts of government.

His subjec

law.

But while the power of the sovereign is supreme in tion to the point of jurisdiction, it is neither absolute nor unlimited in extent; for it is a maxim of the common law, that although the king is under no man, yet he is in subjection to God and the law, for the law makes the king. And though the monarch is not personally responsible to any human tribunal for the exercise of the functions of royalty, yet these functions appertain to him in his political capacity, are regulated by law, and must be discharged for the public welfare, and not merely to gratify his personal inclinations. For the king is bound to govern his people according to law.

Succession to the Crown.

Succession to the Crown of England has always been hereditary; but even this right is held subject to limita

See Bagehot on the Eng. Const.,
in Fortnightly Review, Aug. 15, 1865,
pp. 106, 108.

Broom's Legal Maxims, 4th ed.
54; Bowyer, Const. Law, pp. 134-
40; Atkinson's Papinian, p. 33.
4 Broom's Legal Maxims, p. 48.
Broom, Const. Law, p. 63. And

see in De Lolme, book i. chap. viii., the manner in which the several prerogatives of the crown are limited and restrained by law, and their exercise subjected to the general control of Parliament. See also post, Chap. V., On the Royal Prerogative in connection with Parliament.