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19. What is the relation of the King to the estab

ished church?

He is the head of the church.

20. By whom are the bishops appointed? By the King acting by his ministers.

21. Can the King suspend or alter any law? He cannot.

22. Does he possess an absolute veto on all acts of Parliament ?

He does; but that power has not been exercised for nearly two centuries.

23. What is meant by the maxim, "The King never dies"?

That the executive department is never vacant. As soon as the King dies, his successor is immediately clothed with all his authority.

24. Of whom does the Privy Council consist? The Privy Council consists of such persons as the King sees fit to appoint.

25. What power has the Privy Council?

It has power to decide questions relating to colonial charters and rights, and in relation to commerce.

CHAPTER XXVII.

THE ENGLISH JUDICIARY.

1. What is the highest court in England?

The High Court of Chancery.

2. Who presides over it? The Lord High Chancellor.

3. By whom is he appointed?

By the King.

4. What is his tenure of office?

The will of the King; but as he is a cabinet officer, he usually comes into and goes out of office with the administration.

5. Is the Court of Chancery solely a court of equity?

It is both a court of equity and of common law; but the equitable jurisdiction constitutes its principal business.

6. What inferior Courts of Chancery are there? The Court of the Master of the Rolls, and the Courts of the Vice-Chancellors of England.

7. What are the Superior Courts of Westminster Hall?

The King's Bench, the Common Pleas, and the Court of Exchequer.

8. Were the jurisdictions of these courts originally distinct?

They were.

9. What cases did the King's Bench take cognizance of?

Criminal cases.

10. What suits were brought before the Common Pleas?

Suits respecting land titles and contracts.

11. To what did the jurisdiction of the Court of Exchequer relate?

To matters relating to the King's revenue.

12. What may be said of the jurisdiction of these courts now?

The three courts possess concurrent jurisdiction in all civil matters, except that real actions must be brought in the Court of Common Pleas..

13. What is a real action?

An action relating to real estate.

14. Of what does the Court of the King's Bench consist?

Of one Chief Justice, and four puisné judges, as they are termed.

15. Of what does the Common Pleas consist? Of a Chief Justice and four puisné judges.

16. Of what does the Court of Exchequer consist? Of one Chief Baron and four puisné barons.

17. How are the judges appointed?

By the King.

18. What is their tenure of office?

During good behavior.

19. Which court of the three Superior Courts is the highest in rank?

The King's Bench.

20. Which is next in rank?

The Common Pleas.

21. To what body may appeals from the Court of Chancery and the Courts of Westminster Hall be taken?

To the House of Lords.

22. Who always presides when the House of Lords sits as a court of appeal in civil trials?

The Lord High Chancellor.

23. What other members of the legal profession are always present?

The judges of the Superior Courts of Westminster Hall and the attorney-general.

24. Do they take any part in the proceedings? Their opinions are taken on all difficult questions. 25. What original criminal jurisdiction does the House of Lords possess?

All peers of the realm are exempt from trial by jury for treason and felony, and can be tried for those crimes only by the House of Lords.

26. What is the Court of Admiralty?

A court that takes cognizance of causes relating to maritime affairs.

CHAPTER XXVIII.

INTERNATIONAL LAW.

1. What is international law?

The rules that regulate the intercourse of nations. 2. What should those rules be founded on? Justice.

3. What do they consist of?

The usages to which all Christian nations have given their assent.

4. Is international law the result of legislation? It is not. There is no international legislature to make laws for the government of the nations.

5. When does a rule or principle become a part of international law?

When it has received the assent of all the nations of Christendom.

6. In the view of international law, what relation do nations sustain to one another?

The relation of equality.

7. What follows from this equality?

That every nation has a right to regulate its own concerns, and that no nation should interfere with the internal affairs of another.

8. What effect do changes in the government of a nation have on its relations to other nations?

They have no effect. Treaties formed with a nation under a kingly government remain in force though that kingly government be changed to a democracy.

9. What does the jurisdiction of a nation embrace?

A nation has exclusive jurisdiction over all its territory, and over the adjoining sea to the extent of a marine league from the shore.

10. To whom does the open sea belong?

The open sea is the common property of all nations.

11. What rights have foreigners residing in a country?

They are subject to the laws of the country in which they reside, and can claim protection and justice, though they cannot claim all the privileges of citizens.

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