1872, 1883, and 1885 Acts

Question 1

What act was in 1872?

Answer 1

The secret ballot Act

Question 2

What were the terms of the 1872 secret ballot Act?

Answer 2

-Gladstone 2nd ministry proposed to introduce the Act
-all general/local elections and by-elections have secret ballots

Question 3

What were the positives of the 1872 secret ballot Act?

Answer 3

Long-term reduced power that could be exerted over masses.
Enabled growth of political pressure groups

Question 4

What were the negatives of the secret ballot act?

Answer 4

As the ballot was now secret the impact of the act was difficult to measure

Question 5

What act was in 1883?

Answer 5

Corruption and illegal practices act

Question 6

What were the terms of the 1883 corruption and illegal practices act?

Answer 6

-maximum set of money MPs could spend on elections, linked to size of constituency and no. of voters.
-outlawed parties booking up all transport to get voters to polling stations
-fines/imprisonment for MPs breaking this law.

Question 7

What were the positives of the 1883 corruption and illegal practices Act?

Answer 7

-electoral expenses fell by 3quarters
-bribing no longer possible
-long-run poorer men could afford to stand as candidates
-political parties had to be clearer in policies
-electorate willing to question candidates

Question 8

What were the negatives of the 1883 corruption and illegal practices act?

Answer 8

Only applied to general elections so MPs could insert themselves with the electorate in between elections.

Question 9

What Act was in 1885?

Answer 9

Redistribution of seats

Question 10

What were the terms of the redistribution of seats act 1885?

Answer 10

-Mostly all counties & boroughs to become single-MP constituencies with avg. population 50k
-small boroughs lost MPs & some constituencies went from 2 to 1 MPs.
-142 seats redistributed
-London went from 22 to 55 MPs
-Cornwall went from 44 to 7 MPs

Question 11

What were the positives of the 1885 redistribution of seats act?

Answer 11

-political power/influence of aristocracy/landowners was hindered.
-no. of aristocratic ministers/MPs declined
-end of old constituencies meant an emphasis on national issues than local
-after 1885 election manufactures/commercial men outnumbered landowners in HoC

Question 12

What were the negatives of the 1885 redistribution of seats act?

Answer 12

There was no shirt-term significance only long-term