Westminster in United Kingdom

Westminster Meaning in Politics

Description of Westminster published by Mona Chalabi: A shorthand term that refers to British government and/or Parliament, used because both can be found in the Palace of Westminster. When you hear people refer to “Westminster,” it has much the same connotation as when people refer to “Washington” — it just means power.

Meaning of Westminster

The following is an old definition of Westminster [1]: Up to 1180, the court of common pleas followed the king’s house- hold from one end of the kingdom to the other. For the convenience of suitors, Magna Charta provided that the court should “be held in some certain place.” This place has ever since been Westminster, or Westminster Hall, where the aula regis originally sat, when the king resided there.

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Notes and References

1. Concept of Westminster provided by the Anderson Dictionary of Law (1889) (Dictionary of Law consisting of Judicial Definitions and Explanations of Words, Phrases and Maxims and an Exposition of the Principles of Law: Comprising a Dictionary and Compendium of American and English Jurisprudence; William C. Anderson; T. H. Flood and Company, Law Publishers, Chicago, United States)

Concept of Westminster

Traditional meaning of westminster [1] in the English common law history: The seat of the superior courts; see NISI PRIUS. Westminster I. : a statute in 3 Edw. I. (1275), containing many provisions concerning purgation of clerks, felons, paine forte et dure, marriage of wards, prescription in writs, vouching to warranty, etc. Westminster II.: the 13 Edw. I. c. 1 (1285), containing the statute de Donis, matters concerning formedon, second deliverance, cui in vita, advowsons usurped, vouching to warranty, mesne, waste, fieri facias, elegit, etc.; see 2 Poll. & Maitl. Hist. 491. Westminster III.: the 18 Edw. I. (1290), the statute of Quia emptores, concerning alienations, mortmain, etc. [rtbs name=”history-of-english-law”]

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Notes and References

1. Based on A concise law dictionary of words, phrases and maxims, “Westminster”, Boston: Little, Brown, and Company, 1911, United States. This term and/or definition may be absolete. It is also called the Stimson’s Law dictionary, based on a glossary of terms, included Westminster.

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