Keeper of the Seals
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The title keeper of the seals or equivalent is used in several contexts, denoting the person entitled to keep and authorize use of the great seal of a given country. The title may or may not be linked to a particular cabinet or ministerial office. This is most often the case today, but in the past the role was often a distinct and important job.
Canada
The official Keeper of the
Each province since 1869 has its own seal and their keepers are the provincial
France
The French "Keeper of the Seals" (Garde des Sceaux) is a title held by the
The Minister of Justice guards the Great Seal of France, dating from 1848, in his or her office, as well as the stamping press. The Seal was used in 1958 to seal the Constitution of France and has since been used to seal certain constitutional amendments.
Italy
In Italy, the
As Guardasigilli, the Minister of Justice countersigns all laws and decrees signed by the
Japan
The
Malaysia
Netherlands
In the Netherlands, custody of the great seal is held ex-officio by the Minister of Justice.[2]
New Zealand
The Governor-General of New Zealand has custody of the Seal of New Zealand.[3] However, responsibility for the seal is delegated to the Clerk of the Executive Council.[4] The seal is affixed to various instruments that require it.[5]
Papacy
In medieval and Renaissance times the Papal Custode del Piombo ("Keeper of the
United Kingdom
Several British officials have titles connected to the keeping of seals.
| Title | Seal | Current Holder | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lord Keeper | Privy Seal of England
|
One of the nine Great Officers of State. Today this a sinecure office used to bring a person into the British Cabinet as a Minister without Portfolio. Until the English Reformation this was usually held by a bishop, the change being marked by Thomas Boleyn, 1st Earl of Wiltshire, after his daughter Anne Boleyn became Queen. | Nicholas True |
| Lord High Chancellor Lord Keeper of the Great Seal |
Great Seal of the Realm | The office today is primarily concerned with the administration of the courts, and is linked by presiding officer of the House of Lords (succeeded in that capacity by the Lord Speaker ) and of a judge or judge-like position on several judicial bodies.
|
Alex Chalk |
| Keeper | Great Seal of Scotland | An official entrusted with the Great Seal of Scotland, generally given to holders of Scotland-specific offices. Currently held ex officio by the First Minister of Scotland. The position also grants the First Minister a position in the order of precedence by virtue of his or her position as Keeper of the Great Seal. Before the Scotland Act 1998 created the office of First Minister, the position of Keeper of the Great Seal of Scotland was generally given to the Secretary of State for Scotland .
|
Humza Yousaf |
| Keeper | Great Seal of Northern Ireland | A title previously held by the Governor of Northern Ireland from 1922 until 1973 when it was presented to the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland. | Brandon Lewis |
| Keeper | Welsh Seal | An office created by the Government of Wales Act 2006 that is held ex-officio by the First Minister of Wales. It grants the minister an official position for purposes of the Order of Precedence. No Welsh Seal had previously existed since those used by the native Princes of Wales. | Mark Drakeford |
| Keeper | Privy Seal of Scotland | An honour traditionally given to a Scottish Peer, vacant since 1922. | vacant |
| Keeper | Great Seal of Cornwall | Held by the Chancellor of Cornwall. Appointed by the Duchy of Cornwall, vacant since 1867. | vacant |
| Keeper | Privy Seal of Cornwall | Appointed by the Duchy of Cornwall, vacant since 1933. | vacant |
United States
The United States Secretary of State is the official keeper of the Great Seal of the United States,[8] and the seal may only be affixed to instruments as provided by law or by authorization of the President.[9] The authority to manage the operation of the device is delegated to an official at the State Department. This official is the Director of the Office of Presidential Appointments, the office that manages the Great Seal at the Department of State. Informally, the director is sometimes referred to as the “Keeper” in the sense that the job has been delegated.[10]
Unlike the Great Seals listed above, the Great Seal of the United States is the primary graphical emblem of the United States and is used equivalently to a coat of arms.
The
References
- ^ 7:17AM in SK. "Government of Saskatchewan". Ops.gov.sk.ca. Retrieved 2016-02-14.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ Koninkrijksrelaties, Ministerie van Binnenlandse Zaken en (December 8, 2016). "Bezoek van de minister van Veiligheid en Justitie aan de Hoge Raad van Adel - Nieuwsbericht - Hoge Raad van Adel". www.hogeraadvanadel.nl.
- ^ Seal of New Zealand Act 1977, section 4
- ^ "About the Seal of New Zealand". About the Seal of New Zealand.
- ^ Seal of New Zealand Act 1977, section 3. "The Seal of New Zealand shall be the seal to be used on any instrument that is made by Her Majesty or Her successors, or by the Governor-General, on the advice of a Minister of Her Majesty's Government in New Zealand or on the advice and with the consent of the Executive Council of New Zealand."
- ^ Lucco, Mauro, "Sebastiano del Piombo", Grove Art Online, Oxford Art Online. Oxford University Press. Web. 1 Apr. 2017. subscription required
- ^ St. Catherine of Alexandria in Renaissance Roman Art: Case Studies in Patronage, Dr Cynthia Stollhans, p. 117-120
- ^ 4 U.S.C. § 42 (2006).
- ^ See 4 U.S.C. § 42 (2006) ("Except as provided by section 2902 (a) of title 5, the [great] seal shall not be affixed to any instrument without the special warrant of the President therefor.").
- ^ Speckart, Kathryn. "Keeper of the Great Seal" Received by Nick Saito, 20 Feb. 2020. Email Interview.