The Scottish Militia Bill 1708 (known formerly as the Scotch Militia Bill) was a bill that was passed by the House of Commons and House of Lords of the Parliament of Great Britain in early 1708. However, on 11 March 1708,[1]Queen Anne withheld royal assent on the advice of her ministers for fear that the proposed militia would be disloyal. This was due to the sudden appearance of a Franco-Jacobite invasion fleet en route to Scotland which gave ministers second thoughts, at the last minute, about allowing it to reach the statute books. As of 2023[update], it is the last occasion on which the royal veto has been used in Great Britain or the United Kingdom.[2]
A Bill for settling the Militia of that Part of Great Britain called Scotland
Status: Not passed
Content
The bill's long title was "An Act for settling the Militia of that Part of Great Britain called Scotland". Its object was to arm the Scottish militia, which had not been recreated at the Restoration. This happened as the unification between Scotland and England under the Acts of Union 1707 had been passed.
On the day the bill was meant to be signed, news came that the French were sailing toward Scotland for the planned invasion of 1708 and there was suspicion that the Scots might be disloyal. Therefore, support for a veto was strong and the Queen refused her royal assent to the bill.
Significance
The Scottish Militia Bill 1708 is the last bill to have been refused royal assent. Before this, King William III had vetoed bills passed by Parliament six times. Royal assent to bills generally came to be viewed as a mere formality once both Houses of Parliament had successfully read a bill three times, or a general election had taken place.
In the British colonies, the denial of royal assent (exercised on the advice of ministers) had continued past 1708, and was one of the primary complaints of the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776: that the King "has refused his Assent to Laws, most wholesome and necessary for the public Good" and "He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing Importance".
References
^"Parliaments: 1705". The History of Parliament. Institute of Historical Research. Retrieved 6 November 2016. On 11 Mar. 1708, when the Queen attended the Lords to give assent to several bills, she used her prerogative of veto against one, the bill for settling the Scottish militia.
^Queen Anne's veto is recorded as "La Reine s'avisera" ("The Queen will consider it") in 18 H.L. Jour. 506 (1707).
April 30, 2023
scottish, militia, bill, 1708, known, formerly, scotch, militia, bill, bill, that, passed, house, commons, house, lords, parliament, great, britain, early, 1708, however, march, 1708, queen, anne, withheld, royal, assent, advice, ministers, fear, that, propose. The Scottish Militia Bill 1708 known formerly as the Scotch Militia Bill was a bill that was passed by the House of Commons and House of Lords of the Parliament of Great Britain in early 1708 However on 11 March 1708 1 Queen Anne withheld royal assent on the advice of her ministers for fear that the proposed militia would be disloyal This was due to the sudden appearance of a Franco Jacobite invasion fleet en route to Scotland which gave ministers second thoughts at the last minute about allowing it to reach the statute books As of 2023 update it is the last occasion on which the royal veto has been used in Great Britain or the United Kingdom 2 Scottish Militia BillAct of ParliamentParliament of Great BritainLong titleA Bill for settling the Militia of that Part of Great Britain called ScotlandStatus Not passedContent EditThe bill s long title was An Act for settling the Militia of that Part of Great Britain called Scotland Its object was to arm the Scottish militia which had not been recreated at the Restoration This happened as the unification between Scotland and England under the Acts of Union 1707 had been passed On the day the bill was meant to be signed news came that the French were sailing toward Scotland for the planned invasion of 1708 and there was suspicion that the Scots might be disloyal Therefore support for a veto was strong and the Queen refused her royal assent to the bill Significance EditThe Scottish Militia Bill 1708 is the last bill to have been refused royal assent Before this King William III had vetoed bills passed by Parliament six times Royal assent to bills generally came to be viewed as a mere formality once both Houses of Parliament had successfully read a bill three times or a general election had taken place In the British colonies the denial of royal assent exercised on the advice of ministers had continued past 1708 and was one of the primary complaints of the United States Declaration of Independence in 1776 that the King has refused his Assent to Laws most wholesome and necessary for the public Good and He has forbidden his Governors to pass Laws of immediate and pressing Importance References Edit Parliaments 1705 The History of Parliament Institute of Historical Research Retrieved 6 November 2016 On 11 Mar 1708 when the Queen attended the Lords to give assent to several bills she used her prerogative of veto against one the bill for settling the Scottish militia Queen Anne s veto is recorded as La Reine s avisera The Queen will consider it in 18 H L Jour 506 1707 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Scottish Militia Bill amp oldid 1143027133, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
