In 1921 following the War of Independence, The Anglo-Irish Treaty was signed establishing the Irish Free State, which would grant Ireland limited autonomy as a dominion of Great Britain and have equal status as that of the other dominions. However the Anglo-Irish Treaty had certain conditions that bitterly divided Irish politics. These included the “treaty ports”, the decision for Northern Ireland to “opt-out”, the crown being represented by a governor general and most notoriously the “Oath of Allegiance”. As a result the 1922 Constitution was heavily influenced by the limitations of the treaty. Eamon De Valera strongly opposed it and resigned as President and sought re-election but was defeated by Arthur Griffith and Michael Collins who then …show more content…
the “Treaty Ports”) and foreign affairs.
While under the 1937 Constitution, the role of the British was reduced and while it did not declare a republic, it established the conditions necessary for it to happen. This included according to Ó Tuma (2011) “the position now was that the Oireachtas had an absolute control of the Constitution” and De Valera “abolished the two remaining symbols of imperial power: the Privy Council appeals and the office of governor
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Under the 1922 Constitution , the role of the executive was according to the Irish Free State Constitution under Article 51 “ The Executive Authority of the Irish Free State (Saorstát Éireann) is hereby declared to be vested in the King” and the head of government shall be a the “President of the Executive Council” and members shall be appointed by the “representative of the crown” based on the Presidents nomination, who in turn according to Article 53 “shall be appointed on the nomination of Dáil Éireann” and lastly if the President lost majority, he must resign along with his ministers, according to Article 53 “shall retire from office should he cease to retain the support of a majority in Dáil