Government of Northern Ireland
Encyclopedia
The Government of Northern Ireland is, generally speaking, whatever political body exercises political authority over Northern Ireland
. A number of separate systems of government exist or have existed in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland was created as a separate legal entity on 3 May 1921, under the Government of Ireland Act 1920
. The new autonomous Northern Ireland was formed from six of the nine counties of Ulster
, being four counties with unionist majorities, and Fermanagh and Tyrone two of the five Ulster counties which had nationalist majorities. In large part unionists, at least in the north east region, supported its creation while nationalists
were opposed. Subsequently, on 6 December 1922, the island of Ireland became an independent dominion
known as the Irish Free State
but Northern Ireland immediately exercised its right to opt out of the new Dominion.
The first government of Northern Ireland was the Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland
, which exercised such authority from 1922 to 1972. A Northern Ireland Executive
was created following the signing of the Sunningdale Agreement
in 1974, while the current Northern Ireland Executive
under the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, was created in the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, and has intermittently been in existence from 1998 to the present. Ireland has also been governed by ministers under the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
during periods of direct rule.
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. A number of separate systems of government exist or have existed in Northern Ireland.
Northern Ireland was created as a separate legal entity on 3 May 1921, under the Government of Ireland Act 1920
Government of Ireland Act 1920
The Government of Ireland Act 1920 was the Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom which partitioned Ireland. The Act's long title was "An Act to provide for the better government of Ireland"; it is also known as the Fourth Home Rule Bill or as the Fourth Home Rule Act.The Act was intended...
. The new autonomous Northern Ireland was formed from six of the nine counties of Ulster
Ulster
Ulster is one of the four provinces of Ireland, located in the north of the island. In ancient Ireland, it was one of the fifths ruled by a "king of over-kings" . Following the Norman invasion of Ireland, the ancient kingdoms were shired into a number of counties for administrative and judicial...
, being four counties with unionist majorities, and Fermanagh and Tyrone two of the five Ulster counties which had nationalist majorities. In large part unionists, at least in the north east region, supported its creation while nationalists
Irish nationalism
Irish nationalism manifests itself in political and social movements and in sentiment inspired by a love for Irish culture, language and history, and as a sense of pride in Ireland and in the Irish people...
were opposed. Subsequently, on 6 December 1922, the island of Ireland became an independent dominion
Dominion
A dominion, often Dominion, refers to one of a group of autonomous polities that were nominally under British sovereignty, constituting the British Empire and British Commonwealth, beginning in the latter part of the 19th century. They have included Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Newfoundland,...
known as the Irish Free State
Irish Free State
The Irish Free State was the state established as a Dominion on 6 December 1922 under the Anglo-Irish Treaty, signed by the British government and Irish representatives exactly twelve months beforehand...
but Northern Ireland immediately exercised its right to opt out of the new Dominion.
The first government of Northern Ireland was the Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland
Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland
The Executive Committee or the Executive Committee of the Privy Council of Northern Ireland was the government of Northern Ireland created under the Government of Ireland Act 1920. Generally known as either the Cabinet or the Government, the Executive Committee existed from 1922 to 1972...
, which exercised such authority from 1922 to 1972. A Northern Ireland Executive
Northern Ireland Executive (1974)
After the Northern Ireland Assembly elections of 1973, negotiations between the pro-agreement parties on the formation of a "power-sharing Executive" began. The most contentious issues were internment, policing and the question of a Council of Ireland....
was created following the signing of the Sunningdale Agreement
Sunningdale Agreement
The Sunningdale Agreement was an attempt to establish a power-sharing Northern Ireland Executive and a cross-border Council of Ireland. The Agreement was signed at the Civil Service College in Sunningdale Park located in Sunningdale, Berkshire, on 9 December 1973.Unionist opposition, violence and...
in 1974, while the current Northern Ireland Executive
Northern Ireland Executive
The Northern Ireland Executive is the executive arm of the Northern Ireland Assembly, the devolved legislature for Northern Ireland. It is answerable to the Assembly and was established according to the terms of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, which followed the Good Friday Agreement...
under the First Minister and Deputy First Minister, was created in the Belfast (Good Friday) Agreement, and has intermittently been in existence from 1998 to the present. Ireland has also been governed by ministers under the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...
during periods of direct rule.