Act of Settlement

Act of Settlement

Act of Parliament that since 1701 has regulated the succession to the throne of Great Britain.(Encyclopædia Britannica)

In fall of 1700 William III. was ill and had no children who could inherit the throne. Anne, his sister-in-law, had just lost her last surviving son and the group of supporters for the exiled king James II. was growing. The need for this law was obvious, “to provide for a stable executive branch for the British government.” The law enacted, that the crown was to pass to Sophia, granddaughter of James I. and electress of Hanover, who was a Protestant.

Besides this succession of the throne of Great Britain, the act also contained some more important legal regulations:

1. all future monarchs must join in communion with the church of England

2. if a future monarch is not a native of England, England is not obligated to engage an any war for the defense of territories (e.g., Hanover) not belonging to the crown of England

3. judges were not hold office during good behavior rather than at the sovereign’s pleasure, though they are subject to impeachment by both houses of Parliament

4. impeachments by House of Commons are not subject to pardon under the Great Seal of England (i.e., by the sovereign) (Encyclopædia Britannica)

Originally there were four other clauses, which were either repealed or seriously modified.

---

Literature:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/h2g2/alabaster/A695441

The new Encyclopædia Britannica,in 32 vol.[1974],Encyclopædia Britannica

Arnold-Baker, Charles:The companion to British history, 1996.