Civil List Act 1727

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Civil List Act 1727
Act of Parliament
Coat of Arms of Great Britain (1714-1801).svg
Long title An Act for the better Support of His Majesty's Household, and of the Honour and Dignity of the Crown of Great Britain.
Citation 1 Geo. 2. St. 1. c. 1
Territorial extent  Great Britain
Dates
Royal assent 17 July 1727
Commencement 17 March 1715 [a]
Repealed15 July 1867
Other legislation
Repealed by Statute Law Revision Act 1867
Status: Repealed
Text of statute as originally enacted

The Civil List Act 1727 (1 Geo. 2. St. 1. c. 1) was an act of the Parliament of Great Britain passed upon the accession of George II.

Contents

The act granted the Crown the Civil List revenues (mainly customs and excise), estimated to give the King an annual income of £800,000. If these revenues yielded less than £800,000 then Parliament would make up the shortfall. If on the other hand they were worth more than £800,000, the King could retain the surplus as well. [1] The act differed from previous Civil List arrangements in that under the terms of the act the income of the Crown would increase with the wealth of the nation. In the early years of George II's reign, the revenues fell below the stipulated amount of £800,000 but by the end of his reign he was receiving £876,988. [2]

Legacy

The whole act was repealed by section 1 of, and the schedule to, the Statute Law Revision Act 1867 (30 & 31 Vict. c. 59).

Notes

  1. Start of session.

References

  1. E. A. Reitan, 'The Civil List in Eighteenth-Century British Politics: Parliamentary Supremacy versus the Independence of the Crown', The Historical Journal Vol. 9, No. 3 (1966), p. 320.
  2. Reitan, p. 320.