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'''The Constitution of 1782''' is a collective term given to a series of legal changes which freed the ], a mediaeval body made up of the '']'' and the '']'', of legal restrictions that had been imposed since ] times by successive ] and ] government on its work. These restrictions had in effect allowed the Irish executive of the British ] to control the parliamentary agenda and to restrict its ability to legislate for the interests of Ireland rather than the kingdoms of England (pre-1707) and Great Britain (1707-1800).
{{more citations needed|date=May 2022}}


] dating from the period of legislative independence (1782-1800)]]
The most notorious restriction had been ] of 1492.
] ]]]
The '''Constitution of 1782''' was a group of ]s passed by the ] and the ] in 1782–83 which increased the legislative and judicial independence of the ] by reducing the ability of the ] to make laws and hear court cases relating to Ireland. These changes were promoted, under the name '''legislative independence''',<ref>{{cite book |last=Connolly |first=S. J. |year=2007 |title=The Oxford Companion to Irish History |edition=2nd |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=9780191727429 |chapter-url=http://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780199234837.001.0001/acref-9780199234837|chapter-url-access=subscription |chapter=Legislative independence}}</ref> by the ], a loose alliance with ] as its leading orator. The ] as it existed after 1782 is often called '''Grattan's Parliament''' in his honour. The constitution did not create a ], as the ] remained under the control of a ] acting as a representative of the British government.


Under the terms of ] of 1495, no law could be passed by the Parliament of Ireland that was not first approved by the ]. In 1719, the Parliament of Great Britain passed the ] which further restricted Irish legal independence by declaring that the British Parliament could directly pass laws in Ireland and that the British ] was the highest court of appeal for Ireland.
These restrictions were all lifted in 1782, producing a period of unheard-of legislative freedom. This period came to be known as '']'' after ], a major campaigner for reform in the Parliament's ].


These laws gave the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the representative in Ireland of the British government, control over the agenda of the Irish Parliament and authority to restrict its ability to legislate contrary to the objectives of the British government in London.
The ] merged with the Parliament of Great Britain in 1801, ending the period of legislative freedom. From 1801 to 1922, Ireland legally was part of the ] and legislated for from the ] in ].


From 1782, Grattan – the leader of the Patriot Party – led a series of legal changes which produced a period of novel legislative freedom. The main ] was the ].
The eighteenth century ] in ] in ] (which was the first purpose-built two-chamber parliament in the world, pre-dating the nineteenth century ] and the ]), survives today under the name of the ]. While its famed ] chamber was dismantled after the ], the magnificent ] chamber still exists and is worth a visit by anyone visiting Dublin. Visits are free. It is open during normal Bank opening hours.


The British ] had conceded the act in fear of an ]. This concession was followed by the ], commonly known as the '''Renunciation Act'''. By the terms of this act, the Parliament of Great Britain renounced all right to legislate for Ireland, and declared that no appeal from the decision of any court in Ireland could be heard in any court in Great Britain.

Grattan's Parliament also achieved greater control over the ].

The new constitutional arrangements proved short-lived in consequence of the ] by the ]. By the ] the Parliament of Ireland was abolished. The Kingdom of Ireland was absorbed into the new ], with effect from 1 January 1801.

==See also==
* ]
* ]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{ISBN|9780521197205}}

{{Irish constitutions|state=collapsed}}

⚫ ]
]
] ]
⚫ ]

Latest revision as of 20:20, 5 April 2024

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A map of the Kingdom of Ireland dating from the period of legislative independence (1782-1800)
Façade of the Parliament of Ireland building

The Constitution of 1782 was a group of Acts passed by the Parliament of Ireland and the Parliament of Great Britain in 1782–83 which increased the legislative and judicial independence of the Kingdom of Ireland by reducing the ability of the Kingdom of Great Britain to make laws and hear court cases relating to Ireland. These changes were promoted, under the name legislative independence, by the Irish Patriot Party, a loose alliance with Henry Grattan as its leading orator. The Parliament of Ireland as it existed after 1782 is often called Grattan's Parliament in his honour. The constitution did not create a responsible executive, as the Dublin Castle administration remained under the control of a Lord Lieutenant acting as a representative of the British government.

Under the terms of Poynings' Law of 1495, no law could be passed by the Parliament of Ireland that was not first approved by the Privy Council of England. In 1719, the Parliament of Great Britain passed the Declaratory Act which further restricted Irish legal independence by declaring that the British Parliament could directly pass laws in Ireland and that the British House of Lords was the highest court of appeal for Ireland.

These laws gave the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the representative in Ireland of the British government, control over the agenda of the Irish Parliament and authority to restrict its ability to legislate contrary to the objectives of the British government in London.

From 1782, Grattan – the leader of the Patriot Party – led a series of legal changes which produced a period of novel legislative freedom. The main act was the Repeal of Act for Securing Dependence of Ireland Act 1782.

The British Rockingham Ministry had conceded the act in fear of an American-style revolt. This concession was followed by the Irish Appeals Act 1783, commonly known as the Renunciation Act. By the terms of this act, the Parliament of Great Britain renounced all right to legislate for Ireland, and declared that no appeal from the decision of any court in Ireland could be heard in any court in Great Britain.

Grattan's Parliament also achieved greater control over the Royal Irish Army.

The new constitutional arrangements proved short-lived in consequence of the 1798 uprising by the United Irishmen. By the Acts of Union the Parliament of Ireland was abolished. The Kingdom of Ireland was absorbed into the new United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, with effect from 1 January 1801.

See also

References

  1. Connolly, S. J. (2007). "Legislative independence". The Oxford Companion to Irish History (2nd ed.). Oxford University Press. ISBN 9780191727429.

External links

Major constitutional laws affecting Ireland
Pre-Union
UK Acts
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