The Crown's Administrative Powers

(2105) 131 Law Quarterly Review 652

25 Pages Posted: 10 Sep 2014 Last revised: 22 Jul 2016

See all articles by Adam Perry

Adam Perry

University of Oxford - Faculty of Law

Date Written: September 8, 2014

Abstract

In addition to its statutory and prerogative powers, the Crown has extensive administrative powers. The Crown’s administrative powers range from the power to form contracts to the power to circulate written material, and include powers to make ex gratia payments, convey property, and create policies. Much of the ordinary business of government falls under the Crown’s administrative powers, yet these powers are poorly understood. There are two existing accounts of the Crown’s administrative powers, but I show that both are unsound. I set out a better account, according to which the Crown’s administrative powers are of two sharply different types: (i) legal powers, which derive from the common law, and which extend to what a natural person can do and what the law permits; and (ii) non-legal powers, which stem from wide social recognition, and which extend beyond what a natural person can do or what the law permits. This ‘twofold account’ suggests several new ways of distinguishing the Crown’s administrative powers from its prerogative powers. It also suggests that the Crown’s administrative powers pose an unusual and serious threat to the rule of law.

Keywords: Crown, powers, permissions, common law, residual freedom

Suggested Citation

Perry, Adam, The Crown's Administrative Powers (September 8, 2014). (2105) 131 Law Quarterly Review 652 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2493552 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.2493552

Adam Perry (Contact Author)

University of Oxford - Faculty of Law ( email )

St Cross Building
St Cross Road
Oxford, OX1 3UL
United Kingdom

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