EMPIRE 353

hand, and Protectorates and Dependencies on the other. This
classification relates rather to the circumstances in which they
came under British control, than to the method of their Govern-
ment. It is more in accord with present facts to classify the
colonial possessions with reference to the ani9unt of self-Govern-
ment which they possess. Many, particularly in the West Indies,
have a Legislative Council, which, with the Governor appointed
by His Majesty, rules the Colony. Very few Legislatures, how-
ever, are wholly elected; usually some or all of the members are
nominated by the Governor. Nor. does the Legislature, whatever,
its composition, have complete control. On all vital matters, the
Governor can override it, and he is subject to the instructions of
the Secretary of State for the Colonies, who is in turn responsible
to the British Parliament. All Colonies are subject to the Colonial
Laws Validity Act, 1865, which declares that the British Parlia-
ment has power to make laws extending to the Colonies, and
that no Act of a Colonial Legislature shall have any effect if it
conflicts with a British Act. This does not mean that the laws of
Britain and the Colonies are the same; in many Colonies, the
right of attacking and criticising the Government is more
restricted than it is here. But if the British Parliament chooses to
state explicitly in an Act that the laws of Britain with regard to,
say, freedom of public meeting, or any other matter, shall apply
to any Colony, then those laws would apply, no matter what
Acts the Colonial Legislature had passed. Because of this
supremacy, the British Parliament is frequently described as the
"Imperial Parliament".

The right to vote is in* nearly all Colonies restricted to those
who own a certain amount of property; and where, as in Africa,
there is a small white population side by side with a large number
of people of other races, the latter have little or no right of
representation. Thus a grant of "self-Government" to such an
area as Kenya would not mean democratic Government, but
control by the white minority resident there. The Colonial Office

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