Page:Studies in constitutional law Fr-En-US (1891).pdf/25

Rh Britain, and thus constituted the United Kingdom. The practical form which this double consolidation takes is: (1) the adoption by each of the two kingdoms thus annexed to England and to Great Britain respectively of one and the same dynasty, together with the settlement of the Crown in perpetuity on the Protestant line of the House of Hanover; (2) the introduction of a certain number of Scotch and Irish members into the two Houses of the English Parliament.

The Parliament thus constituted legislates for the whole of the United Kingdom; but the special laws of Scotland and Ireland which existed previous to the union remain in force as long as they are not repealed. A considerable number of these statutes exist, and they differ so considerably that Parliament finds it necessary from time to time to make special Acts for each kingdom. This is the reason why the following phrase is so often met with at the beginning or end of a statute: “This Act does not extend to Scotland or Ireland.” This exception is not necessary for the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands which are not parts of the United Kingdom. These islands are bound only by statutes in which they are particularly named.

The most important of the other provisions of the two Acts of Union relates to the Church.

The Episcopal Church in England is an Established Church, that is to say, the Church which is in possession of the parish, livings, benefices, tithes, and church