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The Royal Prerogative Re-Visited*

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 January 2009

B. S. Markesinis
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Extract

Of the two most often-quoted definitions of the royal prerogative, Dicey's definition as “the residue of discretionary or arbitrary authority, which at any given time is legally left in the hands of the Crown,” has often received the express or implied approval of the courts. Thus, besides the weight of the authority of its great author, the above definition also enjoys the privilege of official and almost universal recognition and acceptance. It was therefore with great diffidence that the present writer decided to “re-visit the prerogative” and examine it critically. Yet, he has done so in the belief that the passage of time is bound to have had some effect on a definition which is nearly ninety years old and which, when first published, naturally reflected the nineteenth-century theory on this subject.

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Articles
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The Cambridge Law Journal , Volume 32 , Issue 2 , November 1973 , pp. 287 - 309
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge Law Journal and Contributors 1973

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References

1 The other being Blackstone's Commentaries, I, 238.

2 Introduction to The Study of the Law of the Constitution (10th ed., 1967), p. 424.Google Scholar

3 Thus, for example, Att.-Gen. v. De Keyser's Royal Hotel Ltd. [1920] A.C. 508 at 526Google Scholar; Burmah Oil Co. Ltd. v. Lord Advocate [1965] A.C. 75 at 99.Google Scholar

4 Prohibitions del Roy (1607) 12 Co.Rep. 63 (“the King in his own person cannot adjudge any case”); The Case of Proclamations (1611) 12 Co.Rep. 74 (“the King hath no prerogative, but that which the law of the land allows him”). On these two points only were the common law courts willing to differ from the views held by the Star Chamber over the nature and extent of the royal prerogative.

5 For an opposite view on the importance of this right, see Heuston, R. F. V., Essays in Constitutional Law (2nd ed., 1964), pp. 75et seq.Google Scholar The formal participation of the Sovereign in some of the above acts is not discussed here nor is it relevant.

6 Bagehot, W., The English Constitution (1968), p. 111.Google Scholar

7 Forsey, E. A., The Royal Power of Dissolution of Parliament in the British Commonwealth (1943) (1968 reprint)Google Scholar; Markesinis, B. S., The theory and practice of dissolution of Parliament (1972).Google Scholar

8 Letter to The Times, 15 September 1913.Google Scholar

9 Quoted by Sir Ivor, Jennings, Cabinet Government (3rd ed., 1961), p. 405.Google Scholar

10 Jennings, ibid., p. 26.

11 Sir Harold, Nicolson, King George V (Pan Books, ed. 1967) at p. 488.Google Scholar

12 See the discussion in Marshall, G., Constitutional Theory (1971), pp. 17et seq.Google Scholar

13 (1611) 12 Co.Rep. 74.

14 Stockdale v. Hansard (1839) 9 Ad. & E. 1, did the same thing for parliamentary privilege.

15 Darnel's Case (1627) 3 St.Tr. 1.

16 (1862) 1 B. & S. 850; 121 E.R. 929.

17 Ibid., at p. 932.

18 Ibid., at p. 931. And in Regina v. The Comptroller-General of Patents, Designs and Trade Marks [1899] 1 Q.B. 909 at 914, Smith L.J. said: “The Attorney-General alone has power to enter a nolle prosequi, and that power is not subject to any control.”

19 [1932] 2 K.B. 197.

20 Ibid., at p. 211. But with regard to persons within the United Kingdom the duty is more strictly defined. See, for example, Glasbrook Bros. Ltd. v. Glamorgan County Council [1925] A.C. 270, 277.Google Scholar

21 [1964] A.C. 763.

22 At p. 791.

23 At p. 798.

24 The Times, 12 May 1971.Google Scholar

25 The Times, 13 August 1971.Google Scholar

26 [1971] 1 W.L.R. 1037.

27 per Lord Denning M.R., ibid., p. 1040.

28 [1965] A.C. 75.

29 Ibid., at p. 101.

30 [1920] A.C. 508.

31 [1916] 2 A.C. 77; 32 T.L.R. 436, PC.

32 [1921] 1 K.B. 595; T.L.R. 65, D.C.

33 [1964] Ch. 736.

34 [1972] 3 W.L.R. 279.

35 [1942] A.C. 624.

36 1956 S.C.(H.L.) 1.

37 [1965] 1 Q.B. 57.

38 [1965] 1 W.L.R. 261.

39 [1965] Ch. 1210.

40 [1965] Ch. 1210 at pp. 1245–1246.

41 [1967] 1 W.L.R. 1031, 1037.

42 [1968] A.C. 910.

43 Constitutional and Administrative Law (1971), pp. 600–601.Google Scholar

44 Robinson v. State of South Australia (No. 2) [1931] A.C. 704.Google Scholar

45 [1968] A.C. 910 at pp. 951–952. The American authority cited as United Stales v. Reynolds (1953) 345 U.S. 1, 9–10.Google Scholar

46 See Lord Radcliffe's hint towards the end of his judgment in Chandler v. D.P.P. [1964] A.C. 763Google Scholar and Williams, D. G. T., “The Prerogative and Parliamentary Control” [1971] C.L.J. 179.Google Scholar

47 Op. cit., p. 601.

48 [1972] 3 W.L.R. 279.

49 Per Lord Simon, ibid., at p. 289.

50 See, for example, Conway v. Rimmer [1967] 1 W.L.R. 1031, 1037Google Scholar and Wade, E. C. S. and Bradley, A. W., Constitutional Law (1970), p. 189Google Scholar; Marshall, G., Constitutional Theory (1971), p. 21.Google Scholar

51 Followed in Norwich Pharmacal Co. v. Customs and Excise Commissioners [1972] Ch. 566.Google Scholar

52 Thus s. 11 of the Crown Proceedings Act 1947.

53 Att.-Gen. v. Be Keyser's Royal Hotel Ltd. [1920] A.C. 508 at p. 539.Google Scholar

54 [1920] A.C. 508.

55 Ibid., at p. 554.

56 Ibid., at p. 575.

57 [1965] 1 Q.B. 273.

58 [1965] 1 Q.B. 273 at pp. 294–295.

59 Ibid., at p. 299.

60 Except, perhaps, to allay doubts about the scope and ambit of the prerogative. See Lord Sumner's dicta in the text above.

61 [1920] A.C. 508, 561.

62 Ibid., at p. 561.

63 [1967] 2 Q.B. 173.

64 (1876) 2 Ex.D. 63.

65 [1967] 2 Q.B. 173.

66 [1961] Ch. 328, 338.

67 Italics mine.

68 [1962] Ch. 201.

69 [1965] 1 W.L.R. 94.

70 [1965] 1 W.L.R. 483.

71 [1965] 1 W.L.R. 483, 488.

72 Re M. (an Infant) [1961] Ch. 328, 338.Google Scholar

73 [1968] Ch. 643, 649.

74 Re Mohamed Arif [1968] Ch. 643, 649Google Scholar; Lord Denning, 661.

75 Sabally and N'Jie v. Att.-Gen. [1965] 1 Q.B. 273.Google Scholar

76 [1920] A.C. 508.

77 Italics mine.

78 [1899] A.C. 41 and Lord Davey's judgment at p. 49. The judgments, however, were basically concerned with the construction of the relevant statutes.

79 Constitutional and Administrative Law, p. 123.

80 1972 S.L.T. 110. I am grateful to Professor de Smith for drawing my attention to this decision.

81 Constitutional History of England (1909), p. 418.Google Scholar

82 Which, however, does not expressly abrogate the prerogative.

83 Per Lord Reid in McKendrick v. Sinclair, 1972 S.L.T. 110 at p. 113.Google Scholar

84 Ibid., p. 116 (italics mine); see also Lord Reid at p. 113.

85 Ibid., p. 117. See also Parsons v. Burk [1971] N.Z.L.R. 244Google Scholar and Bridge, J. W., “The case of the rugby football team and the high prerogative writ” [1972] L.Q.R. 83 et seq.Google Scholar

86 J. W. Bridge, ibid., p. 89, seems to accept this.

87 Hill v. C. A. Parsons & Co. Lid. [1972] Ch. 305Google Scholar; Wilson v. Dagnall [1972] 2 W.L.R. 823.Google Scholar See also Bridge, J. W., “Judicial anticipation of the commencement of statutes” [1972] L.Q.R. 390 et seq.Google Scholar

88 See Report on Interception of Communications, Cmnd. 283 of 1957.

89 The Constitutional History of England (1965 reprint), p. 421.Google Scholar

90 Williams, D. G. T., “The Prerogative and Parliamentary Control” [1971] C.L.J. 180.Google Scholar