Parliamentary Elections Act 1770 Explained

Type:Act
Parliament:Parliament of Great Britain
Long Title:An Act to enable the Speaker of the House of Commons to issue his Warrants to make out new Writs for the Choice of Members to serve in Parliament, in the Room of such Members as shall die during the Recess of Parliament.
Year:1770
Citation:10 Geo. 3. c. 16
Repealing Legislation:Controverted Elections Act 1828
Status:repealed

The Parliamentary Elections Act 1770 (also known as the Grenville Act) is an Act of the Parliament of Great Britain (10 Geo. 3. c. 16). The Act transferred the power of trying election petitions from the House of Commons as a whole to a less politicised committee of the House. All contested elections were to be considered by a committee of thirteen members selected by ballot. The Act was initially limited to one year, but was extended several times. A bill was passed in 1774 to make it perpetual – by that time five cases had already been tried.

This Act was repealed by section 1 of the Controverted Elections Act 1828 (9 Geo. 4. c. 22).

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