King-in-Parliament

Queen Victoria Opening Parliament, 1845, by Alexander Blaikley. The Queen-in-Parliament comprises "the Queen sitting on her Throne with the Lords of Parliament sitting before her and the Commons standing at the Bar."[1]

In the Westminster system used in many Commonwealth realms, the King-in-Parliament (Queen-in-Parliament during the reign of a queen) is a constitutional law concept that refers to the components of parliament – the sovereign (or vice-regal representative) and the legislative houses – acting together to enact legislation.[1][2][3][4][5]

Parliamentary sovereignty is a concept in the constitutional law of Westminster systems that holds that parliament has absolute sovereignty and is supreme over all other government institutions. The King-in-Parliament as a composite body (that is, parliament) exercises this legislative authority.

Bills passed by the houses are sent to the sovereign or their representative (such as the governor-general, lieutenant-governor, or governor), for royal assent in order to enact them into law as acts of Parliament. An Act may also provide for secondary legislation, which can be made by executive officers of the Crown such as through an order in council.[6][7]

  1. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference Jennings was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference Dicey was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  3. ^ House of Commons Library. "Chapter 5: The King in Parliament" (PDF). p. 32.
  4. ^ A Crown of Maples (PDF). Government of Canada. 2015. p. XVII. ISBN 978-1-100-20079-8.
  5. ^ "Definition of KING-IN-PARLIAMENT". Merriam-Webster. 23 October 2023. Retrieved 6 April 2024.
  6. ^ Office, Privy Council (13 December 2017). "Guide to Making Federal Acts and Regulations". www.canada.ca. Retrieved 10 April 2024.
  7. ^ "Meetings & Orders". Privy Council. Retrieved 10 April 2024.