Other Terms
Although the term "British subject" now has a very restrictive statutory definition in the United Kingdom, and it would therefore be incorrect to describe a British citizen as a British subject, the concept of a "subject" is still recognised by the law, and the terms "the Queen's subjects", "Her Majesty's subjects", etc., continue to be used in British legal discourse.
The term "United Kingdom national" (sometimes referred to as "British national"), is used differently in various statutes, but most commonly means British Citizens, British Overseas Territories Citizens, British Overseas Citizens, British Nationals (Overseas), (and usually) British Subjects (as defined in the 1981 Act) and British Protected Persons. British Protected Persons are an especial grey area; they are neither Commonwealth citizens (i.e. British subjects in the old sense), nor aliens. Although they are not traditionally considered to be British nationals, since they are not considered to be stateless under international law they must be nationals of the United Kingdom.
In order to cover the various classes of British nationals, the following wording is currently used in drafting legislation:
- A person who is:
- (a) a British citizen, a British Overseas Territories citizen, a British National (Overseas) or a British Overseas citizen; or
- (b) a person who under the British Nationality Act 1981 is a British subject; or
- (c) a British protected person (within the meaning of that Act).
Read more about this topic: British Subjects
Famous quotes containing the word terms:
“They were pipes of pagan mirth,
And the world had found new terms of worth.
He laid him down on the sunburned earth
And raveled a flower and looked away.
Play? Play? What should he play?”
—Robert Frost (1874–1963)
“Ay, ay, the best terms will grow obsolete: damns have had their day.”
—Richard Brinsley Sheridan (1751–1816)