2. The independent Kingdoms of England and Scotland were first linked by personal union of the Crowns of both countries when James VI of Scotland succeeded to the throne of England (as King James I) in 1603. The political unification of the two countries was only effected more than 100 years later through the Treaty of Union of 1707. The treaty and the subsequent Acts of Union abolished the separate parliaments and established one parliament for Great Britain which was situated in London. Great Britain was united with Ireland by the Act of Union of 1800, which came into effect in the following year. By this Act provision was made for Irish representation in the Parliament at Westminster, as provision had been made for Scottish representation in the Act of 1707. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland existed from 1801 until 1922, at which time, in consequence of the partition of Northern and Southern Ireland, the title was changed to the present one of The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Irish Treaty of 6 Dec. 1921 gave Dominion Status to 26 Irish counties under the name of the Irish Free State (Saorstat Eireann); in 1937 the Irish Free State assumed a republican form of government but the new state continued in association with the British Commonwealth until 18 April 1949. Under the Government of Ireland Act, as amended by the Irish Free State Act, 1922, a separate parliament and government, each with limited powers, were established for Northern Ireland. The Northern Ireland Assembly Act, 1973 and the Northern Ireland Constitution Act, 1973 established a new constitutional framework to replace that provided by the Government of Ireland Act, 1920. The Northern Ireland Parliament was replaced by an elected Assembly and the government by an executive, the composition of which was to be agreed by the Assembly. The Northern Ireland Act, 1974 dissolved the Assembly, and provided that a Constitutional Convention should be held on the future of Northern Ireland. The Convention has since collapsed, and rule at present is direct from Westminster
