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Self-governing colony

In the British Empire, a self-governing colony was a colony with an elected government in which elected rulers were able to make most decisions without referring to the colonial power with nominal control of the colony. This was in contrast to a Crown colony, in which the British Government ruled and legislated via an appointed Governor, with or without the assistance of an appointed Council. Most self-governing colonies had responsible government.

Self-governing colonies for the most part had no formal authority over constitutional matters such the monarchy and the constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London serves as the ultimate avenue of appeal in matters of law and justice.

Colonies have sometimes been referred to as "self-governing" in situations where the executive has been under the control of neither the imperial government nor a local legislature elected by universal suffrage but by a local oligarchy state. In most cases such control had been exercised by a ruling class from a settler community.

In 1983, the then-remaining British colonies, self-governing (notably Bermuda) or Crown (notably Hong Kong), were re-designated as British Dependent Territories, and in 2002 as British Overseas Territories.

History edit

North America (1619–1949) edit

The term "self-governing colony" has sometimes been used in relation to the direct rule of a Crown colony by an executive governor, elected under a limited franchise, such as in Massachusetts between 1630 and 1684.

The first local legislatures raised in the English overseas possessions were the House of Burgesses of Virginia (1619) and the House of Assembly of Bermuda (1620), originally part of Virginia. The Parliament of Bermuda, which now also includes a Senate, is the third-oldest in the Commonwealth of Nations, after the Tynwald and Westminster (currently the Parliament of the United Kingdom). Of the three, only Bermuda's has legislated continuously, with the Royalist camp maintaining control of the archipelago during the Commonwealth of England and the Protectorate.

However, in the modern sense of the term, the first self-governing colony is generally considered to have been the Province of Canada, in 1841;[citation needed] the colony gained responsible government in 1849. All the colonies of British North America became self-governing between 1848 and 1855, except the Colony of Vancouver Island. Nova Scotia was the first colony to achieve responsible government in January–February 1848 through the efforts of Joseph Howe, followed by the Province of Canada later that year. They were followed by Prince Edward Island in 1851, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland in 1855 under Philip Francis Little. The Canadian colonies were federated as a Dominion in 1867, except for Newfoundland, which remained a separate self-governing colony, was a separate Dominion in 1907-1934, reverted to being a crown colony in 1934, and joined Canada in 1949. However, the term "self-governing colony" is not widely used by Canadian constitutional experts.

Australasia (1852–1907) edit

In Australasia, the term self-governing colony is widely used by historians and constitutional lawyers in relation to the political arrangements in the seven British settler colonies of Australasia — New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Victoria and Western Australia — between 1852 and 1901, when the six Australian colonies agreed to Federation and became a Dominion. New Zealand remained a separate colony until 1907, when it too became a Dominion.

Southern Africa (1852–1980) edit

In southern Africa, the Cape Colony was granted representative government in 1852, followed by responsible government in 1872. Natal became self-governing in 1893, Transvaal in 1906 and Orange River Colony in 1908. These four colonies were united as a unitary Dominion, the Union of South Africa, in 1910). Southern Rhodesia (later Zimbabwe), became a self-governing colony in 1923.[1]

Europe (1921–1964) edit

Malta was also a self-governing colony between 1921 and 1933, 1947 and 1958, and 1962 until independence two years later.

Dominions/Commonwealth realms edit

Dominions were self-governing entities during the mid-to-late-19th century and early 20th century, with much more autonomy than self-governing colonies. In the Dominions, prior to the Statute of Westminster in 1931, a Governor General, officially the monarch's representative, was an officer of the British government.

After the agreement on the Balfour Declaration 1926 and the Statute of Westminster 1931, the Dominions were recognized as equal to the United Kingdom. After that time, the Dominions were largely free to act in matters of defence and foreign affairs, if they so chose and "Dominion" gradually acquired a new meaning: a state which was independent of Britain, but which shared the British monarch as the official head of state. The term Dominion has since largely fallen out of use and been replaced with the term Realm.

Modern times (1981–present) edit

In 1981, under the British Nationality Act 1981 and reflecting the change in status toward devolved self-government (and depriving colonials of the rights of abode and work in the United Kingdom), self-governing and Crown colonies were renamed "British Dependent Territories".[2] This terminology caused offence to both loyalists and nationalists in the territories and was changed in 2002, by the means of the British Overseas Territories Act 2002, to British Overseas Territories.[3]

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ Brownlie, Ian; Burns, Ian R. (1979). African Boundaries: A Legal and Diplomatic Encyclopaedia. C. Hurst & Co. Publishers. p. 1306. ISBN 9780903983877. Retrieved 28 March 2017.
  2. ^ "British Nationality Act 1981". The UK Statute Law Database. Retrieved 2009-12-15.
  3. ^ "British Overseas Territories Act 2002". Office of Public Sector Information. Retrieved 2009-12-15.

self, governing, colony, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, ja. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Self governing colony news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2010 Learn how and when to remove this template message In the British Empire a self governing colony was a colony with an elected government in which elected rulers were able to make most decisions without referring to the colonial power with nominal control of the colony This was in contrast to a Crown colony in which the British Government ruled and legislated via an appointed Governor with or without the assistance of an appointed Council Most self governing colonies had responsible government Self governing colonies for the most part had no formal authority over constitutional matters such the monarchy and the constitutional relationship with the United Kingdom The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council in London serves as the ultimate avenue of appeal in matters of law and justice Colonies have sometimes been referred to as self governing in situations where the executive has been under the control of neither the imperial government nor a local legislature elected by universal suffrage but by a local oligarchy state In most cases such control had been exercised by a ruling class from a settler community In 1983 the then remaining British colonies self governing notably Bermuda or Crown notably Hong Kong were re designated as British Dependent Territories and in 2002 as British Overseas Territories Contents 1 History 1 1 North America 1619 1949 1 2 Australasia 1852 1907 1 3 Southern Africa 1852 1980 1 4 Europe 1921 1964 1 5 Dominions Commonwealth realms 1 6 Modern times 1981 present 2 See also 3 ReferencesHistory editNorth America 1619 1949 edit The term self governing colony has sometimes been used in relation to the direct rule of a Crown colony by an executive governor elected under a limited franchise such as in Massachusetts between 1630 and 1684 The first local legislatures raised in the English overseas possessions were the House of Burgesses of Virginia 1619 and the House of Assembly of Bermuda 1620 originally part of Virginia The Parliament of Bermuda which now also includes a Senate is the third oldest in the Commonwealth of Nations after the Tynwald and Westminster currently the Parliament of the United Kingdom Of the three only Bermuda s has legislated continuously with the Royalist camp maintaining control of the archipelago during the Commonwealth of England and the Protectorate However in the modern sense of the term the first self governing colony is generally considered to have been the Province of Canada in 1841 citation needed the colony gained responsible government in 1849 All the colonies of British North America became self governing between 1848 and 1855 except the Colony of Vancouver Island Nova Scotia was the first colony to achieve responsible government in January February 1848 through the efforts of Joseph Howe followed by the Province of Canada later that year They were followed by Prince Edward Island in 1851 New Brunswick and Newfoundland in 1855 under Philip Francis Little The Canadian colonies were federated as a Dominion in 1867 except for Newfoundland which remained a separate self governing colony was a separate Dominion in 1907 1934 reverted to being a crown colony in 1934 and joined Canada in 1949 However the term self governing colony is not widely used by Canadian constitutional experts Australasia 1852 1907 edit In Australasia the term self governing colony is widely used by historians and constitutional lawyers in relation to the political arrangements in the seven British settler colonies of Australasia New South Wales New Zealand Queensland South Australia Tasmania Victoria and Western Australia between 1852 and 1901 when the six Australian colonies agreed to Federation and became a Dominion New Zealand remained a separate colony until 1907 when it too became a Dominion Southern Africa 1852 1980 edit In southern Africa the Cape Colony was granted representative government in 1852 followed by responsible government in 1872 Natal became self governing in 1893 Transvaal in 1906 and Orange River Colony in 1908 These four colonies were united as a unitary Dominion the Union of South Africa in 1910 Southern Rhodesia later Zimbabwe became a self governing colony in 1923 1 Europe 1921 1964 edit Malta was also a self governing colony between 1921 and 1933 1947 and 1958 and 1962 until independence two years later Dominions Commonwealth realms edit Dominions were self governing entities during the mid to late 19th century and early 20th century with much more autonomy than self governing colonies In the Dominions prior to the Statute of Westminster in 1931 a Governor General officially the monarch s representative was an officer of the British government After the agreement on the Balfour Declaration 1926 and the Statute of Westminster 1931 the Dominions were recognized as equal to the United Kingdom After that time the Dominions were largely free to act in matters of defence and foreign affairs if they so chose and Dominion gradually acquired a new meaning a state which was independent of Britain but which shared the British monarch as the official head of state The term Dominion has since largely fallen out of use and been replaced with the term Realm Modern times 1981 present edit In 1981 under the British Nationality Act 1981 and reflecting the change in status toward devolved self government and depriving colonials of the rights of abode and work in the United Kingdom self governing and Crown colonies were renamed British Dependent Territories 2 This terminology caused offence to both loyalists and nationalists in the territories and was changed in 2002 by the means of the British Overseas Territories Act 2002 to British Overseas Territories 3 See also editAutonomy Crown colony Territorial autonomy DominionReferences edit Brownlie Ian Burns Ian R 1979 African Boundaries A Legal and Diplomatic Encyclopaedia C Hurst amp Co Publishers p 1306 ISBN 9780903983877 Retrieved 28 March 2017 British Nationality Act 1981 The UK Statute Law Database Retrieved 2009 12 15 British Overseas Territories Act 2002 Office of Public Sector Information Retrieved 2009 12 15 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Self governing colony amp oldid 1196805981, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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