Fact Test 1 - Politcal System Flashcards
What is patronage?
The buying or acquisition of MPs seats in Parliament by wealthy landowners.
What percentage of MPs were financed by Lords in 1801?
50%
How many different types of electoral systems were there in the boroughs?
6
What was a potwalloper borough?
A hearth big enough to boil a pot on to be able to vote.
What was a pocket borough?
A borough where the MP was in the pocket of the landowner/lord (patronage) small borough easily manipulated by land owner.
Why was Old Sarum a problem?
Only 7 voters but 2 MPs/pocket borough.
Why was Dunwich a rotten borough?
East Anglia former borough fallen into the sea and therefore minimal voters.
What was a Scot and Lot borough?
Vote to all male householders who paid local rates.
Name one example of a Scot and Lot borough.
Westminster over 5000 voters but Gatton only had 6.
Which northern industrial town had a population of 250,000 people but no MP?
Manchester
Why were Catholics unhappy with the electoral system in Ireland?
Restrictions on Catholics voting rights/you couldn’t be an MP if you were catholic.
When was the Catholic Emancipation Act?
1829
How many MPs did a county return to Parliament?
2
What could a 40 shilling freeholder in a county do?
Have the right to vote in a county.
What % of the British population could vote in 1800?
11%
Who could sit in the House of Lords?
Hereditary peers often wealthy landowners.
How many county constituencies were there?
40 counties
How many borough constitutencies were there?
203
What fraction of MPs represented constituencies in the south of England?
Two thirds.
What were the two main political groups in Parliament?
Whigs and Tories.
