Monarchy in the Irish Free State

The King was the head of state of the 1922-1937 Irish Free State. Under the Free State constitution, the state was governed under a form of constitutional monarchy. The King exercised a number of important duties, including appointing the Executive Council (cabinet), dissolving the legislature and promulgating laws. Nonetheless, by convention the King's role was largely ceremonial. The King's duties were exercise on his behalf by his official representative, the Governor-General. Most of the King's functions were taken from him in the final days of the Irish Free State, under a constitutional amendment adopted in 1936.

Duties and functions

• Executive authority: The executive authority of the state was formally 'vested' in the King but 'exercised' by the Governor-General, on the 'advice' of the Executive Council.
• Appointment of the cabinet: The President of the Executive Council (prime minister) was appointed by Governor General after being selected by Dáil Éireann (the lower house of parliament). The remaining ministers were appointed on the nomination of the president, subject to a vote of consent in the Dáil.
• Convention and dissolution of the legislature: The Governor-General, on behalf of the King, convened and dissolved the Oireachtas on the advice of the Executive Council.
• Signing bills into law: The King was formally, along with the Dáil and the Senate, one of three tiers of the Oireachtas. No bill could become law until it received the Royal Assent, given by the Governor-General on behalf of the King. The Governor-General theoretically had the right to veto a bill or 'reserve' it 'for the signification of the King's pleasure', in effect postponing a decision on whether or not to enact the bill, for a maximum of one year. However neither of these two actions was ever taken.
• Representative of the state in foreign affairs: The King accredited ambassadors and received the letters of credence of foreign diplomats; ministers signed international treaties in his name. The role of the King in the Free State's foreign affairs was the only function retained by him after the constitutional changes of 1936.
• Appointment of judges: All judges were appointed by the Governor-General, on the advice of the Executive Council.