How Did The Electoral System Work 1780-1832

Question 1

What were MPs like 1780-1832?

Answer 1

-had to be wealthy men as paid no salary
-High property qualifications of £300 a year from land for borough members and £600 for county members
-MPs typically supported kings ministers in parliamentary votes

Question 2

What was the balanced constitution like in 1780-1832?

Answer 2

-power shared between monarch
-monarch held sovereign power, gov conduced under their name
-monarch responsible for dismissing/appointing ministers
-House of Commons had control over gov finances.
-lord could amend/reject legislation
-aristocrats dominated gov

Question 3

What were the distribution of seats like between 1780-1832?

Answer 3

-658 members of parliament in 1815
-122 MPs represented country seats rest represent boroughs
-large industrial cities such as Leeds/Manchester had no representation in parliament
-1830 only 43/202 boroughs in England had population over 1000 whereas Manchester had 144,000

Question 4

What were the electorate and the franchise like between 1780-1832?

Answer 4

-only minority could vote, 1831 half a million could vote out of 24mill
-potwalloper boroughs franchise was open to male households who had a fireplace they coikd boil a pot.
-baggage boroughs right to vote held by certain plots of land

Question 5

What were elections and expenses like between 1780-1832?

Answer 5

-voters had to declare their vote in full view at crowds
-voters open to bribery and bought/sold openly
-intimidation was used if bribery was unsuccessful
-elections were expensive in the Yorkshire country election of 1807 it cost 3 candidates nearly £125,000