Aristocracy

Give three ways aristocracy dominated pre 1832.

Most MPs and ministers; influence over electorate; House of Lords

Give four factors reducing aristocratic influence.

Franchise reform; voter independence laws; access to Parliament; party development; economic decline; limits on Lords

Which two laws encouraged voter independence?

Secret Ballot Act 1872; Corrupt Practices Act 1883

Which two laws made becoming MP easier?

Abolition of property qualification 1858; Payment of MPs 1911

Give three reasons for decline of aristocratic amateur.

Single member constituencies; growing government role; party nomination control

Give two reasons for declining aristocratic wealth.

Corn Law repeal; death duties 1894

What was MP property qualification?

£300 borough; £600 county income

Why abolished?

Often fraudulent and outdated

How was open voting justified?

Public accountability

Why was Secret Ballot Act passed?

Embarrassment 1868; patron influence; new working class voters

What changed under Secret Ballot?

Secret polling; written nominations

What problem remained after?

Bribery still occurred

Name one borough disfranchised for corruption.

Grampound 1821

Why pass Corrupt Practices Act?

High election costs; bribery; exclusion of middle class

Give three things Act did.

Spending limits; single agent; penalties

Give one stat impact.

1910 spending per vote 18 percent of 1880

Why calls to pay MPs?

Working class representation; Osborne judgement; Liberal reliance on Labour

Give two stats middle class MPs.

20 percent pre 1867; outnumbered landowners 1885

Give two stats aristocratic presence.

10 percent MPs 1906; half Cabinet late 1890s

Give three working class MP dates.

1874 miners; 1885 thirteen Lib Lab; 1892 Hardie

How many women MPs by 1928?

12

Religious groups allowed as MPs and years.

1828 Nonconformists; 1829 Catholics; 1858 Jews; 1888 Atheists

What early event weakened Lords?

Great Reform Act

What did Lords do to non financial laws?

Amend and examine

What did Lords do to budgets?

Reject or accept unchanged

Why important after 1906?

Conservative weapon

Why Liberals raising money 1909?

Welfare reforms and naval race

How did Lords block agenda?

Rejected People’s Budget

What happened 1910?

Peers versus People; Liberals minority; Budget passed

Why was the Parliament Bill passed?

Prevent obstruction

Why was the Parliament Act passed?

Election and King threatened peers

Give two things Parliament Act did.

Lords delay only; no power over money bills; term reduced to five years

How did Lords remain undemocratic?

Hereditary; delay power