Robert Reich
Simon Zerafa (Status: 
😊)Technically the King is above the law.
What would happen in the event that evidence of a criminal act were discovered is an interesting question.
A constitutional crisis certainly.
Alanna 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️@simonzerafa @rbreich Yep, the British Monarch is above the law IIRC.
Gentleman Programmer@kelpana @simonzerafa @rbreich I thought not since Magna Carta, which "subjects an otherwise absolute monarch or executive and all free people within its jurisdictions to legal doctrines known as the general principles of law."
?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rule_of_law_in_the_United_Kingdom?wprov=sfla1
It's more about the structure of how criminal law is administered. You are tried in the name of the monarch. That means it's not possible for the monarch to prosecute themselves.
The monarch is subject to legal enforcement by Parliament however laws have to be given royal ascent, which theoretically the monarch could refuse to do.
In practice they don't because if they did they would simply be ignored or bypassed completely, those loosing what power they have.
It's a very carefully balanced set of powers and traditions 🙂
@simonzerafa @kelpana @rbreich Interesting!
However, there is a precedent for the king of England being prosecuted, and for a law being passed without royal assent.
So I maintain that the monarch of the UK isn't above the law.
However, there is a precedent for the king of England being prosecuted, and for a law being passed without royal assent.
So I maintain that the monarch of the UK isn't above the law.
No they aren't. But the mechanisms to enforce the law against the monarch just really isn't there 🤷♂️
The only real president is the Civil War, and that was legally questionable and not really an acceptable resolution today.
The monarch would be deposed legally. If the monarchy remained after that is an open question.
@simonzerafa @sjjh @rbreich Which is why ye need to get a proper written constitution ASAP.
Edit: Do you mean president or precedent? 😁
@kelpana @simonzerafa @rbreich I'm British and I'd like an elected head of state, like the Republic of Ireland has.
The USA, Iran, and Russia for example all have written constitutions. I'd rather live in the UK than any of those places so.
The USA, Iran, and Russia for example all have written constitutions. I'd rather live in the UK than any of those places so.
@sjjh @simonzerafa @rbreich Ireland also has a written constitution, which replaced the British Monarch with an elected head of state. 🙂
The "U"K is heading down the same road as the USA too by the look of it.