Statute of Westminster 1931

Also known as An Act to give effect to certain resolutions passed by Imperial Conferences held in the years 1926 and 1930, Statute of Westminster, 1931

United Kingdom legislation

Key facts

Long title: An Act to give effect to certain resolutions passed by Imperial Conferences held in the years 1926 and 1930.
Citation: 22 & 23 Geo. 5 . c. 4
Introduced by: J. H. Thomas , Secretary of State for Dominion Affairs ( the House of Commons</span>"}]]}'>Commons )
Territorial extent: United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Commonwealth of Australia Dominion of Canada Irish Free State Dominion of Newfoundland Dominion of New Zealand Union of South Africa
Royal assent: 11 December 1931
Commencement: 11 December 1931
Repealed: 1949 (Ireland) 1962 (South Africa)
Amends: Colonial Laws Validity Act 1865
Amended by: British North America Act 1949 South Africa Act 1962 Interpretation Act 1978 Merchant Shipping Act 1995
Repealed by: Republic of Ireland Act, 1949 (Ireland)

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The Statute of Westminster 1931 (22 & 23 Geo. 5. c. 4) is an act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that significantly increased the autonomy of the Dominions of the British Commonwealth.

Passed on 11 December 1931, the statute increased the sovereignty of the self-governing Dominions of the British Empire from the United Kingdom. It also bound them all to seek each other's approval for changes to monarchical titles and the common line of succession. The statute was effective either immediately or upon ratification. It thus became a statutory embodiment of the principles of equality and common allegiance to the Crown set out in the Balfour Declaration of 1926. As the statute removed nearly all of the British parliament's authority to legislate for the Dominions, it was a crucial step in the development of the Dominions as separate, independent, and sovereign states.