The holder of this title is one of the highest officials in states with a monarchical system, which is the United Kingdom. Other countries that use or have ever used this title include Ireland, Scotland, England and Sweden.
A bit of history
In the Middle Ages, such an official was the secretary of the king and kept his correspondence, including confidential. In addition to performing clerical work, he was an adviser to the sovereign in church matters, he was also entrusted with the royal seal. Accordingly, he remained indispensable in matters relating to the expression of the royal will.
Under the first king of the Plantagenet dynasty, who ruled Henry II at the end of the 12th century, this official was in second place in importance after the justiciar, whose competence included not only legal functions, but also royal ones during the absence of the sovereign. Over time, this post disappeared, andhis duties were inherited by the Lord Chancellor of England. The most famous figure ever to hold this position was Thomas More, who lived during the time of Henry VIII and was executed by him on charges of treason.
Initially, the highest state post was entrusted only to the clergy. From the beginning of the 17th century, it passes to secular persons, mainly with a legal education and, as a rule, peers of the English kingdom.
The position of Lord Chancellor of Great Britain was formed as a result of the merger of previously separate similar posts of Scotland, Ireland, England and Wales. The highest government official became Minister of Justice in 2003 after the merger of his department with the judiciary.
In 2005, Tony Blair's government carried out a reform that changed the functions of the top government official. The post of Lord Speaker, which historically belonged to him, is now separated and given to a politically unbiased candidate. The Lord Chief Justice presides over the judiciary of England and Wales.
The full official title of the position is the Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain. The appointment of a dignitary for a five-year term is the prerogative of the queen. It is preceded by an approval issued by the Prime Minister.
Duties of an official
The incumbent official has important functions in all three branches of government: judicial, executive and legislative:
- As the head of the legal department, he takes part in the selection of royaljudges, QCs and heads of the High Court of England and Wales. He is Chief Legal Adviser to the UK Government and Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
- As a member of the government, he leads the United Kingdom's judiciary, is a member of the Privy Council and the Cabinet of Ministers.
- He is the chairman, takes part in debates and votes in the highest legislative body of Great Britain - Parliament (House of Lords).
Interesting fact: this senior government official performs some functions related to the Anglican Church. For example, he appoints clergy in more than four hundred parishes and is one of the thirteen members of the church who administer its property.
Since 1937, the Lord Chancellor has been one of the five persons involved in determining the sovereign's ability to fulfill his duties.
In addition to his core business, the UK's top official is required to act as a guest on trips to the country's educational, medical and charitable institutions.
Currently, the position of Minister of Justice and Lord Chancellor is 47-year-old David Gauck. This is the first lawyer to hold the third most important post in the country. Educated at Oxford Law University.
Position of a statesman
The Lord Chancellor of Great Britain is the highest ranking officer in the country. The importance of this post is reflected in the Treason Act. It deals with the assassination of a dignitary ashigh treason.
The salary of this official is higher than that of any other official, including the Prime Minister, and amounts to 227 thousand pounds sterling per year. He also has an annual pension of £106,000.
Lord Chancellor is an unofficial title. At state receptions, he should be addressed as "the venerable." The position of a senior official in the ranking of privileges in the UK is so high that only the royal family and prominent representatives of the church are ahead of him; technically superior to the prime minister, even though he has more power.
