Legal Definitions - le roy s'avisera

The legal term le roy s'avisera is a historical phrase from Law French, meaning "The king will advise upon it."

Historically, this phrase was the formal way a monarch in the United Kingdom would signify their refusal to give royal assent to a bill that had been passed by Parliament. Essentially, it was a polite but firm way for the sovereign to veto legislation, indicating that the bill would not become law. While it did not constitute an outright rejection, it effectively put the bill into an indefinite state of review, preventing its enactment. This power has not been exercised by a British monarch since 1713 and is now considered a constitutional anachronism, meaning it exists in theory but is no longer used in practice.

Here are some examples illustrating the historical application and theoretical understanding of le roy s'avisera:

• Imagine a scenario in 1690, where Parliament passes a bill proposing significant new taxes on the Crown's personal estates. The reigning monarch, King William III, views this as an unacceptable encroachment on royal finances. Instead of directly rejecting the bill and risking a confrontation, he could have formally stated "le roy s'avisera."

  This would have signaled his deep reservations and effectively prevented the bill from becoming law, placing it into an indefinite state of royal consideration without a direct veto that might inflame political tensions.

• Consider a constitutional law lecture discussing the theoretical limits of parliamentary sovereignty. A professor might explain that while modern monarchs always grant royal assent to bills, historically, they possessed the power to withhold it. The professor could then state, "If Queen Victoria, for example, had ever decided to block a bill passed by both Houses of Parliament, her formal declaration would have been 'la reine s'avisera,' effectively pausing the legislative process indefinitely."

  This example highlights the historical power of the monarch to delay or prevent legislation, even if it was rarely used and is now entirely symbolic.

• During a historical drama set in the early 18th century, a powerful Prime Minister pushes through a controversial bill that the monarch, Queen Anne, believes is detrimental to the nation's long-term interests. Despite intense pressure, the Queen might have considered using "la reine s'avisera" as a last resort.

  By doing so, she would have avoided a direct conflict with Parliament while simultaneously preventing the bill from becoming law, buying time for further negotiation or for public opinion to shift, thereby demonstrating the monarch's ultimate, albeit rarely exercised, legislative check.