Ponsonby Rule

Ponsonby Rule

The Ponsonby Rule is a constitutional convention in the United Kingdom constitutional law that dictates that most international treaties must be laid before parliament 21 days before ratification.

History

From the late 19th century it became the common practice to present the treaties of the United Kingdom to Parliament after they had come into force.

On 1 April 1924, during the Second Reading Debate on the Treaty of Peace (Turkey) Bill, Mr Arthur Ponsonby (Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs in Ramsay MacDonald's first Labour Government) made the following statement:

At the same time he stated that:

The Ponsonby Rule was withdrawn during the subsequent Baldwin Government, but was reinstated in 1929 and gradually hardened into a practice observed by all successive Governments.

Other countries

The practice on legislative approval of treaties before ratification varies in from country to country. In most countries the constitution requires most treaties to be approved by parliament before they can formally enter into force and bind the country in question. This is particularly the case in states where international treaties become part of domestic law directly, without the need for special implementation, as is the case in the United Kingdom.

In countries with a strong separation of powers, this may lead to treaties being signed by the executive, but not coming into force because of parliamentary opposition. In the United Kingdom, with its government usually commanding a decisive majority in Parliament, this does not usually happen.

External links

* [http://www.fco.gov.uk/Files/kfile/ponsonbyrule,0.pdf Foreign and Commonwealth Office information (pdf)]

ee also

*Foreign and Commonwealth Office


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать реферат

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Ponsonby rule — …   Useful english dictionary

  • Arthur Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede — Arthur Augustus William Harry Ponsonby, 1st Baron Ponsonby of Shulbrede (16 February 1871 23 March 1946) was a British politician, writer, and social activist. He was the third son of Sir Henry Ponsonby, Private Secretary to Queen Victoria, and… …   Wikipedia

  • Cloistered rule — The Insei system (院政), or cloistered rule, was a specific form of government in Japan during the Heian period. In this bifurcated system, an Emperor abdicated, but he retained power and influence. The emperors who withdrew to live in monasteries… …   Wikipedia

  • Constitution of the United Kingdom — British Constitution redirects here. For the card game, see British Constitution (solitaire). United Kingdom This article is part of the series …   Wikipedia

  • Constitutional convention (political custom) — Not to be confused with Constitutional convention (political meeting). A constitutional convention is an informal and uncodified procedural agreement that is followed by the institutions of a state. In some states, notably those Commonwealth of… …   Wikipedia

  • Cloistered Emperor — Daijō Hōō or Daijō Hō (both accepted readings of 太上法皇), term sometimes translated in English as cloistered Emperor, was a Japanese Emperor (Tennō) who abdicated and entered the Buddhist monastic community by receiving the Pravrajya rite. The term …   Wikipedia

  • Tokugawa Ieyasu — In this Japanese name, the family name is Tokugawa . Tokugawa Ieyasu 徳川家康 1st Tokugawa shogun In office 1603–16 …   Wikipedia

  • Labour Party (UK) — Labour Party …   Wikipedia

  • Emperor Daijō — Daijō Tennō or Dajō Tennō (both accepted readings of 太上天皇) was a Japanese Emperor (Tennō) who abdicated in favor of a successor. It is often shortened as Jōkō (上皇). As defined in the Taihō Code, although retired, a Daijō Tennō could still exert… …   Wikipedia

  • Ireland — • Ireland lies in the Atlantic Ocean, west of Great Britain . . . Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Ireland     Ireland     † …   Catholic encyclopedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”