Legal Definitions - Keeper of the Great Seal

The Keeper of the Great Seal is a high-ranking official, historically prominent in countries like England and Scotland, whose primary duty is to safeguard the nation's Great Seal. This individual is responsible for using the Great Seal to formally authenticate and validate state documents of the utmost importance, thereby signifying their official status and legal authority. In modern England, these duties are performed by the Lord Chancellor.

Here are some examples illustrating the role of the Keeper of the Great Seal:

• Example 1: Authenticating a Historical Treaty

  Imagine a significant peace treaty being finalized between two nations in 17th-century England. After the representatives of both monarchs have signed the agreement, the document would be presented to the Keeper of the Great Seal. The Keeper would then impress the Great Seal onto the treaty, officially authenticating it as a binding international agreement of the state.

  This illustrates the Keeper's crucial role in providing the ultimate official validation for a critical international agreement, ensuring its authenticity and legal force through the application of the Great Seal.

• Example 2: Formalizing a Modern Act of Parliament in the UK

  When a new Act of Parliament has successfully passed through both houses and received Royal Assent in the United Kingdom today, it officially becomes law. While the physical act of sealing is largely ceremonial now, the Lord Chancellor, in their capacity as Keeper of the Great Seal, would oversee the formal authentication process, ensuring that the official copy of the Act is properly sealed, confirming its status as a legitimate and enforceable statute.

  This shows how the modern Lord Chancellor, acting as the Keeper, ensures the formal validity of significant domestic legislation, even if the physical act of sealing is now more symbolic of the office's historical function.

• Example 3: Validating a Royal Proclamation

  Consider a significant royal proclamation issued by the monarch, perhaps declaring a new national holiday or a state of emergency. For such a proclamation to carry full legal weight and be recognized as an official command from the Crown, it would historically require the impression of the Great Seal. The Keeper of the Great Seal would be the individual responsible for applying this seal, thereby authenticating the proclamation as a legitimate and authoritative directive from the head of state.

  This highlights the Keeper's role in validating direct commands or declarations from the monarch, ensuring they are officially recognized and legally binding through the application of the Great Seal.