Research briefings

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• Succession to the Crown Bill (HL Bill 81 of 2012–13) Published 11 February 2013 | Library notes LLN 2013/005 The Succession to the Crown Bill makes changes to the laws of succession to the Crown. This Library Note summarises the proceedings which have taken place on the Bill during its passage through the House of Commons, ahead of the Bill’s second reading debate in the House of Lords on 14 February 2013. Topic: Church and state, Constitution, Crown, Equality, Religious discrimination, Sex discrimination
• Succession to the Crown Bill 2012-13 Published 19 December 2012 | Research papers RP12/81 The Succession to the Crown Bill would make changes so that gender would no longer play a part in determining the order of succession to the Crown, and so that a person marrying a Roman Catholic would no longer be barred from becoming or remaining monarch. It would also remove a requirement for descendants of George II to seek permission from the monarch to marry, replacing it with a requirement for the first six people in the line of succession to seek consent if they wish to remain in line to the throne. This Paper discusses the existing rules, the changes proposed by the Bill, and the process among the 16 states of which the Queen is Head of State to make the changes together. Topic: Constitution, Crown
• Honours for political service Published 26 November 2012 | Standard notes SN06433 This Note examines developments in honours for political service. Topic: Central government, Crown
• Olympic Britain Published 26 July 2012 | Research papers RP12/38 Olympic Britain tells the story of the profound economic and social change in the UK since the two previous London Olympics, in 1908 and 1948, using statistics and expert analysis. The book can also be browsed using the Parliament website at www.parliament.uk/business/publications/research/olympic-britain/ Topic: Agriculture, Armed forces, Crime, Crown, Economic situation, Employment, Housing, Incomes and poverty, Leisure, Parliament, Population, Sports and Olympic Games
• PIL: Queen's Speech - proposers and seconders of the Loyal Address since 1900 Published 19 June 2012 | Standard notes SN04064 The Queen's Speech is delivered by the Queen from the Throne in the House of Lords. Topic: Crown, Members of Parliament, Parliament
• Honours Published 02 February 2012 | Standard notes SN02832 Amended 07 February 2012 This Note sets out the current operation of the Honours system and summarises the results of earlier reviews. Topic: Central government, Crown
• Sovereign Grant Bill Published 12 July 2011 | Research papers RP11/57 Amended 13 July 2011 The Sovereign Grant Bill concerns the way in which the monarchy is funded. It seeks to replace the Civil List and other grants that support the Queen’s official duties with a new Sovereign Grant, based on a percentage of the profits of the Crown Estate. The new grant is designed to deliver at first a broadly similar level of finance in cash terms to what is available at present. There are mechanisms for adjusting the level in future, and for using any significant surplus as a means to reduce the grant. The Sovereign Grant is intended to be a typical government grant that will lead to the royal finances being audited by the National Audit Office, and subjected to full parliamentary scrutiny. Topic: Constitution, Crown
• Public records, freedom of information and the Royal Family Published 09 March 2011 | Standard notes SN05377 This Note outlines exemptions in the Freedom of Information act relating to the Royal Family, in addition to outlining attempts to create new exemptions through amendments to the Constitutional Reform and Governance Bill. Finally, the Note outlines the recommendations of the Dacre Review, for a reduction in the 30 year rule for public records, and related Government proposals. Topic: Central government, Crown, Freedom of information
• The Act of Settlement and the Protestant Succession Published 24 January 2011 | Standard notes SN00683 This note sets out the legal background to the rules surrounding the succession and then considers the historical background and context for the limitations on religious beliefs of the monarch and their spouse before looking at how the legislative restrictions could be removed. Lastly, it sets out recent attempts to change the laws of succession. Topic: Constitution, Crown
• PIL: Attempts to Amend Crown Succession Published 19 January 2011 | Standard notes SN04663 Topic: Crown
• Finances of the Monarchy Published 09 December 2010 | Standard notes SN00819 Finances of the Monarchy. By Richard Cracknell. SN/SG/819. Topic: Crown
• Cost of a bank holiday Published 24 November 2010 | Standard notes SN05775 The latest Government estimate is that an additional bank holiday would cost the economy £2.9 billion. Topic: Crown, Economic policy, Economic situation
• The Royal Prerogative Published 30 December 2009 | Standard notes SN03861 This note sets out the historical background to the Royal Prerogative before describing general prerogative powers and the Crown's personal prerogative powers. It then sets out recent proposals for reform. It does not provide detailed information on individual prerogative powers. Topic: Central government, Crown, Parliament
• Royal Marriages and Succession to the Crown (Prevention of Discrimination) Bill Published 17 March 2009 | Research papers RP09/24 Topic: Crown, Constitution
• Royal marriages-constitutional issues Published 02 December 2008 | Standard notes SN03417 This note sets out the legal and historical background to the restrictions on royal marriages, and considers their application in the case of the marriage of Prince Charles to Camilla Parker Bowles. Topic: Constitution, Crown
• The Coronation Oath Published 27 August 2008 | Standard notes SN00435 This Note offers a summary of coronation procedures and sets out the statutory requirements for the Coronation Oath. Topic: Constitution, Crown
• Golden Jubilee 2002 Published 13 January 2003 | Standard notes SN01435 This note sets out as a record the progress of the Queen's Golden Jubilee, and gives historical background. Topic: Crown
• Queen and country fifty years on: facts and figures for the Golden Jubilee 2002. Published 23 April 2002 | Research papers RP02/28 Queen and Country Fifty Years On: facts and figures for the Golden Jubilee 2002. House of Commons Library Research Paper 02/28. Topic: Crown
• Lyings in State Published 12 April 2002 | Standard notes SN01735 This Standard Note gives a history of lying in state from antiquity, and looks at occasions where people have lain in state in the last 200 years. Topic: Crown, Parliament