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TheConstitution of 1782 was a group ofActs passed by theParliament of Ireland and theParliament of Great Britain in 1782–83 which increased the legislative and judicial independence of theKingdom of Ireland by reducing the ability of theKingdom of Great Britain to make laws and hear court cases relating to Ireland. These changes were promoted, under the namelegislative independence,[1] by theIrish Patriot Party, a loose alliance withHenry Grattan as its leading orator. TheParliament of Ireland as it existed after 1782 is often calledGrattan's Parliament in his honour. The constitution did not create aresponsible executive, as theDublin Castle administration remained under the control of aLord Lieutenant acting as a representative of the British government.
Under the terms ofPoynings' Law of 1495, no law could be passed by the Parliament of Ireland that was not first approved by thePrivy Council of England. In 1719, the Parliament of Great Britain passed theDeclaratory Act which further restricted Irish legal independence by declaring that the British Parliament could directly pass laws in Ireland and that the BritishHouse of Lords was the highest court of appeal for Ireland.
These laws gave the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, the representative in Ireland of the British government, control over the agenda of the Irish Parliament and authority to restrict its ability to legislate contrary to the objectives of the British government in London.
From 1782, Grattan – the leader of the Patriot Party – led a series of legal changes which produced a period of novel legislative freedom. The mainact was theRepeal of Act for Securing Dependence of Ireland Act 1782.
The BritishRockingham Ministry had conceded the act in fear of anAmerican-style revolt. This concession was followed by theIrish Appeals Act 1783, commonly known as theRenunciation Act. By the terms of this act, the Parliament of Great Britain renounced all right to legislate for Ireland, and declared that no appeal from the decision of any court in Ireland could be heard in any court in Great Britain.
Grattan's Parliament also achieved greater control over theRoyal Irish Army.
The new constitutional arrangements proved short-lived in consequence of the1798 uprising by theUnited Irishmen. By theActs of Union the Parliament of Ireland was abolished. The Kingdom of Ireland was absorbed into the newUnited Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, with effect from 1 January 1801.