One of Parliament’s roles is to give its consent to the raising and keeping of standing army during peacetime; this requirement is set out in the 1688-89
Bill of Rights, one of the great historic documents that regulate the relations between the Crown and the people.
The Bill of Rights
sought to limit the power of the Crown by preventing monarchs from trying to change laws, raise taxes or maintain an army without Parliament’s consent: “By raising and keeping a Standing Army within this Kingdome in time of Peace without Consent of Parlyament and Quartering Soldiers contrary to Law.”
A former Defence Minister, Baroness Goldie,
said the annual consideration of the 2006 act “reflects the constitutional requirement under the Bill of Rights that the Armed Forces may not be maintained without the consent of this Parliament.”