Simple English definitions for legal terms
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An Act of Union is a law passed by the British Parliament that joins different parts of Great Britain together. There have been several Acts of Union throughout history, including the Laws in Wales Act in 1535, which made Wales subject to English law, and the Union with Ireland Act in 1800, which abolished the Irish Parliament and made Ireland part of the United Kingdom. The term is also used to refer to the Union with Scotland in 1707, which was made by a treaty between Scotland and England that dissolved each parliament and created a new state called Great Britain with one parliament.
An Act of Union is a term used to describe several acts of Parliament that united different parts of Great Britain. The term can refer to:
For example, the Laws in Wales Act of 1535 united Wales with England and made it subject to English law. This meant that Wales was no longer a separate principality with its own laws and customs.
The Act of Union with Ireland in 1800 abolished the Irish Parliament and incorporated Ireland into the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. This meant that Ireland was no longer a separate country with its own government and laws.
The Union with Scotland in 1707 was made by a treaty between Scotland and England. This treaty dissolved each parliament and created the new state of Great Britain with one parliament, the Parliament of Great Britain. This meant that Scotland was no longer a separate country with its own parliament and laws.