Orders in Council.

Orders in Council. orders by the sovereign with the advice of the Privy-council. The Privy-council of Great Britain has no power to legislate, except so far as authorised to do so by parliament; but in periods of emergency it has nevertheless occasionally issued and enforced orders of a legislative kind; those who were concerned in passing, promulgating, or enforcing the orders trusting to parliamentary protection, and taking on themselves the personal responsibility of the proceeding. In such cases an act of indemnity afterwards passed has relieved from liability those who advised the order or acted under it, and given compensation to all who suffered by its enforcement. This course was adopted in 1766 with regard to an embargo on the exportation of corn, issued in consequence of a deficient harvest and prospect of famine. An important constitutional question was raised by the famous Orders in Council issued by Great Britain in 1807 and 1809, in reprisal for Napoleon's Berlin and Milan decrees. See CONTINENTAL SYSTEM.