Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/231

 CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT.

'95

\\ llham and J\ William III.

lary

. 1689 . 1694

House of Stuart. Anne ....

. 1702

Horn

cof

Hanover.

George I.

.

. 1714

George II.

. 1727

George IIL George IV. William IV. .

. 1760 . 1820 . 1830

Victoria

.

1837

The following is a list of the sovereigns and sovereign rulers of Great Britain with date of their accession, from the union of the crowns of England and Scotland: —

House of Stuart. House of Stuart- Orange.

James 1 1G03

Charles 1 1625

Commonwealth.

Parliamentary Executive. 1649

Protectorate .... 1653

House of Stuart.

Charles II 1660

James II 1685

The average duration of the reigns of the sovereigns of Great Britain, exclusive of the period of the Commonwealth, but including the actual reign of her present Majesty — amounting in the aggregate to two centuries and a half — has been twenty years.

Constitution and Government.

The supreme legislative power of the British empire is by its constitution given to Parliament. ' The power and jurisdiction of Parliament,' says Sir Edward Coke, ' is so transcendent and absolute that it cannot be confined, either for causes or persons, within any bounds.' And, repeating the words, Sir William Blackstone adds, that it is ' the place where that absolute despotic power, which must in all governments reside somewhere, is entrusted by the con- stitution of these kingdoms.' The sovereign is not only the head, but also the beginning and the end — caput, principium, et finis — of Parliament ; he alonp. can summon Parliament ; and no Parliament, save on the demise of a sovereign, can assemble of its own accord. Parliament is summoned by the writ of the sovereign issued out of Chancery, by advice of the privy council, at least thirty-five days previous to its assembling. On a vacancy occurring whilst Parlia- ment is sitting, a writ for the election of a new member is issued upon motion in the House. If the vacancy occurs during the recess, the writ is issued at the instance of the Speaker. By 4 Edw. III. c. 14, it was enacted, ' It is accorded that Parlia- ment shall be holden every year once or more often if need be.' Also by 36 Edw. III. c. 10, it was directed, ' that a Parliament be holden every year if need be.' By 16 Chas. I. c. 1, it was

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