The Honourable
The prefix
The Honourable or
The Honorable (abbreviated to "
The Hon." or formerly "The Hon'ble") is a title of quality attached to the names of certain classes of persons.
Entitlement
In the
United Kingdom, all sons and daughters of
viscounts and
barons and the younger sons of
earls are styled with this prefix. (The daughters and younger sons of
dukes and
marquesses and the daughters of
earls have the higher style of
Lord or
Lady before their first names, and the eldest sons of dukes, marquesses and earls are known by one of their father or mother's subsidiary titles.) The style is only a
courtesy one, however, and on legal documents they are described as, for instance,
John Smith, Esq., commonly called The Honourable John Smith. As the wives of sons of peers share the titles of their husbands, the wives of the sons of viscounts and barons and the younger sons of earls are known as, e.g.,
The Hon. Mrs John Smith.
Some persons are entitled to the prefix by virtue of their offices. Rules exist that allow certain individuals to keep the prefix
The Honourable even after retirement.
* Judges of the
High Court and other superior courts in the Commonwealth (if the judge is a
knight, the style
Sir John Smith is used socially instead of
The Honourable Mr Justice Smith.);
* Members of
executive councils (and by extension,
cabinets);
* Members of the
Queen's Privy Council for Canada;
* Members of
legislative councils (or
senates) where the legislature is
bicameral; and
* Certain representatives of the
Sovereign, e.g. Lieutenant-Governors of
Canadian provinces.
Many corporate entities are also entitled to the style, for example:
* The Honourable the Commons of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in Parliament Assembled;
* The Honourable East India Company;
* The Honourable Artillery Company;
* The Honourable Society of the
Inner Temple etc.
Usage
The style
The Honourable is always written on envelopes (where it is usually abbreviated to
The Hon), and formally elsewhere, in which case the style Mr or
Esq. is omitted. In speech, however, The Honourable John Smith is referred to simply as Mr John Smith.
In the
House of Commons and other lower houses of
Parliament and other legislatures, members refer to each other as
honourable members etc. out of courtesy, despite the fact that they are not entitled to the style in writing.
Where a person is entitled to the prefix
The Right Honourable he will use this higher style instead of
The Honourable.
In the
United States, the prefix
The Honorable is used for a large number of high ranking (and not so high ranking) government officials, within the following guidelines:
*Any person elected to any public office at any level of American government; or
*Any person appointed by the
President to a position subject to
Senate confirmation.
The term
Your Honor as a spoken form of address is usually reserved for judges, justices, and magistrates (who are addressed as such when presiding in court). Some mayors, such as the
Mayor of New York City are also given the title.
In
Australia, all ministers in Commonwealth and state (but not territory) governments are entitled to be styled
The Honourable. Except in
New South Wales and
South Australia, the title is retained for life because it recognises that their appointment to the relevant executive council (when they first become a minister) is an appointment for life, and the person technically remains "an executive councillor-on-call". In New South Wales and South Australia the
premier can advise the
Queen to grant former ministers the title for life. The Presiding officers of the parliaments of the Commonwealth and the states are also styled
The Honourable but normally only during their tenure of office. Special permission is sometimes given for a former presiding officer to retain the title after leaving the office.
The title "The Honourable" is not acquired through membership of either the House of Representatives or the Senate. A member or senator may have the title if they have acquired it separately, eg. by being a current or former minister. During proceedings within the chambers, forms such as "The honourable Member for ...", "The honourable the Leader of the Opposition", or "My honourable colleague" are used. This is a merely a parliamentary courtesy and does not imply any title.
Traditionally, members of the Legislative Councils of the states were also styled
The Honourable. This practice is still followed in
New South Wales,
Western Australia and
South Australia. It is not followed in
Tasmania. In
Victoria, the practice was abolished in
2003.
In
Canada, the following people are entitled to the style
The Honourable (or l'honorable in French) for life:
* Members of the
Canadian Senate * Members of the
Queen's Privy Council for Canada*
Provincial Lieutenant-Governors
In addition, some people are entitled to the style while in office only:
* The
Speaker of the Canadian House of Commons* Judges of the
Supreme Court of Canada and other
superior courts
* Members of provincial
Executive Councils while holding office
* Speakers of provincial
legislatures while holding office.
It is usual for Speakers of the House of Commons to be made Privy Councillors, in which case they keep the style for life, and provincial
Premiers are sometimes also made Privy Councillors.
Members of the
Canadian House of Commons and of provincial legislatures refer to each other as "honourable members" (or l'honorable député) but are not entitled to have
The Honourable as a prefix in front of their name.
The
Governor General of Canada, the
Prime Minister of Canada, the
Chief Justice of Canada and certain other eminent persons are entitled to the style
The Right Honourable (or le/la Très honorable in French).
see Styles of Address (Canada)In
Hong Kong, the prefix "the Honourable" is used for the following people:
* Members of the
Legislative Council* Members of the
Executive Council* The
Chief Executive* Chief Secretary, Financial Secretary, Secretary of Justice, and Secretaries of Bureaux
* Judges of the
Court of Final Appeal* Judges of the High Court
* Bearers of the title
Grand Bauhinia Medal, the highest medal in Hong Kong's honours system
In addition to the standard Commonwealth usage, the
Speaker of the
House of Representatives is entitled to be referred to as "the Honourable".
New Zealand office holders who are "honourable"
ex-officio are usually personally granted the title for life as a courtesy when they vacate the office.
From August 2006, the Governor-General will receive the usage of the title upon assuming the office and will hold the title for life. Former living Governors-General will retroactively receive this honour if they are not already a holder or a
Privy Councillor.
In the
Isle of Man, the
style The Honourable (often abbreviated to Hon.) is used to refer to a
Minister while holding office.
*
The Right Honourable*
The Most Honourable*
His or Her Honour*
Style (manner of address) *
Excellency *
Your worship*
UK topics*
Use of courtesy titles and honorifics in professional writing*
Honorary degree (also uses the abbreviation "Hon" in front of that of the degree, e.g. Hon
DLitt)
