PART ONE

CARRYING OUT THE LAW:
THE GOVERNMENT

CHAPTER III

THE MONARCHY

Political Activities:

Executive

Legislative

Judicial

Royal Prerogative
Honours
The Church
Social Activities
Personal Afiairs
Imperial Functions
Conclusions

"George the Sixth, by the Grace of God, of Great Britain,
Ireland, and the British Dominions beyond the Seas, King,
Defender of the Faith, Emperor of India." This is the official
title, to which the Bidding Prayer adds, "over all persons, and
in all causes, within his Dominions, supreme," From an
examination of these words will arise a complete account of the
monarchy.

George VI succeeds to a throne held before him by his brother,
father, grandfather, and a long line of ancestors, so that it is
natural to say that the Kingship is hereditary. This would not
be quite true; for although it has always been recognised that
the Kingship belongs to a certain family, there has been, from
early times, a belief that the chief Assembly of the country—in
turn, the Saxon Witan, the Great Council, and Parliament—have
the right to decide which member of the family shall be King. In
1199 the right of King John as against Prince Arthur, was

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