United Kingdom in the United States

Presidential Memoranda

Presidential Memoranda regarding Proposed Amendment to the 1958 Agreement Between
the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for Cooperation on the Uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defense Purposes (July 18, 2014)

“I have reviewed and concur with the positions taken in your joint letter to me of July 9, 2014, recommending approval of a proposed Amendment to the Agreement Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland for Cooperation on the Uses of Atomic Energy for Mutual Defense Purposes of July 3, 1958, as amended (the “1958 Agreement”).

I note from your joint recommendation and concur with your assessment that the United Kingdom, by participating with the United States pursuant to an international agreement, is making substantial and material contributions to the mutual defense and security. The proposed Amendment to the 1958 Agreement will permit cooperation that will further improve our mutual defense posture and support our interests under NATO. I hereby: approve the proposed Amendment to the 1958 Agreement; determine that performance under the proposed Amendment will promote and will not constitute an unreasonable risk to the common defense and security; approve the program outlined in this Amendment and determine that such program will promote and will not constitute an unreasonable risk to the common defense and security; and authorize the execution of the proposed Amendment for the Government of the United States in a manner specified by the Secretary of State.”

Presidential Memoranda

Presidential Memoranda regarding Delegation of Responsibility Under the Senate Resolution of Advice and Consent to Ratification of the Treaty Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Concerning Defense Trade Cooperation; and the Defense Trade Cooperation Treaties Implementation Act of 2010 (March 06, 2012):

“By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, including section 301 of title 3 of the United States Code, I hereby delegate to you, in consultation with the heads of other executive departments and agencies, as appropriate:

(1) the function of the President to make all certifications, reports, and notifications to the Congress prior to entry into force of the Treaty Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Concerning Defense Trade Cooperation, as well as to provide annual reports thereafter, consistent with section 2 of the Senate Resolution of Advice and Consent to Ratification of the Treaty, dated September 29, 2010; and

(2) the responsibility of the President, under the Defense Trade Cooperation Treaties Implementation Act of 2010 (the “Act”), to provide congressional notification of amendments to the Implementing Arrangements that are made pursuant to section 105(c) of the Act.”

Law lords in the United Kingdom

Highly qualified, full-time judges, the Law Lords carried out the judicial work of the House of Lords until 30 July 2009. The final appeal hearings and judgments of the House of Lords took place on 30 July 2009. The judicial role of the House of Lords as the highest appeal court in the UK has ended. From 1 October 2009, the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom assumed jurisdiction on points of law for all civil law cases in the UK and all criminal cases in England and Wales and Northern Ireland. As of 30 July 2009, the 12 Lords of Appeal in Ordinary (the Law Lords) were appointed the first justices of the 12-member Supreme Court and were disqualified from sitting or voting in the House of Lords. When they retire from the Supreme Court they can return to the House of Lords as full Members but newly-appointed Justices of the Supreme Court will not have seats in the House of Lords.

The Supreme Court is now the final court of appeal. It plays an important role in the development of United Kingdom law.

As an appeal court, The Supreme Court cannot consider a case unless a relevant order has been made in a lower court.

The Supreme Court:

• is the final court of appeal for all United Kingdom civil cases, and criminal cases from England, Wales and Northern Ireland
• hears appeals on arguable points of law of general public importance
• concentrates on cases of the greatest public and constitutional importance
• maintains and develops the role of the highest court in the United Kingdom as a leader in the common law world.

Introduction to TREATY OF GHENT: (1814)

In the context of the legal history: This agreement was signed at the end of the War of 1812. It was signed in Ghent, Belgium. The threat of hostilities in Europe forced the British to accept the terms of the Americans. The Americans won a significant victory when the British had to concede control of the Great Lakes and the possible creation of an Indian state under British rule.

Resources

In the context of the legal history:

See Also

• International Treaties
• Multilateral Treaties