VPRS 14559 Acts Withheld from Royal Assent

A Bill that was approved by both houses of Parliament was sent to the Governor, representing the Queen, to be granted Royal Assent. Once this happened, the Bill was referred to as an Act of Parliament and became law.On rare occasions Royal Assent was not granted. This seemed to occur more often (though not exclusively) when Bills related to the Governor or the Queen - for example, Bills concerning the Governor's pay, or the rewording of oaths to the Queen.In general, the Governor wrote phrases such as "I reserve this Bill for the signification of her Majesty's pleasure thereon" or "In the name of her Majesty I withhold the Royal Assent to this Bill".For further information on the passage of a Bill through Parliament, see the series text for VPRS 14558 Acts of Parliament.