England and Wales
England and
Wales are two separate countries within the
United Kingdom. However, for certain administrative purposes they are treated as a single entity
England and Wales. One such purpose concerns most legislation, as the two countries generally share the same laws. The other countries within the
United Kingdom, that is
Scotland and
Northern Ireland, often have laws very different from those of England and Wales.
From the 1536 Act of Union until 1955, Wales was treated as part of England, so this formula was not necessary. For example, the Act of Union, 1707 is referred to as the union of England and Scotland - under modern terms this would be the union of England and Wales, with Scotland. Sometimes the modern term is used anachronistically to refer to the past.
See Also