dr_mabeuse
seduce the mind
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Can someone tell me what a "rotten borough" is in British politics?
---dr.M.
---dr.M.
Rotten Boroughs
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Colleen Thomas
Ultrafemme
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dr_mabeuse said:
Mabs, a rotten bourough is one where the elctorate is diminished or non existant. The Mp's from these bouroughs are all elected either fradulently or are the only ones registered to vote in them.
Ogs will know for sure, but I believe I am correct here.
-Colly
MaxSebastian
Literotica Guru
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I can't remember the exact definition, but as far as I know back in the middle ages, each borough sent representatives to Westminster to be Members of Parliament. These MPs were basically chosen by the landowners of the boroughs involved.
Some boroughs sent more MPs than others, because of their importance or because of the power of the landowners in those boroughs (if there was a Duke or an Earl in residence, for example).
When democracy got going, and the people actually got to choose MPs to represent the boroughs, some boroughs still sent more MPs than others because the system hadn't been changed. Some tiny villages therefore had as much political power as large towns and cities, because traditionally they had been the seat of power of a Duke or Earl or particularly boombastic Lord.
These were called rotten boroughs, and I think they were taken out of the system as the Industrial Revolution got going.
It was kind of like the way Florida gets to choose who gets to be the President of the United States (or at least, like the way Florida's governor gets to choose who gets to be the President of the United States).
Some boroughs sent more MPs than others, because of their importance or because of the power of the landowners in those boroughs (if there was a Duke or an Earl in residence, for example).
When democracy got going, and the people actually got to choose MPs to represent the boroughs, some boroughs still sent more MPs than others because the system hadn't been changed. Some tiny villages therefore had as much political power as large towns and cities, because traditionally they had been the seat of power of a Duke or Earl or particularly boombastic Lord.
These were called rotten boroughs, and I think they were taken out of the system as the Industrial Revolution got going.
It was kind of like the way Florida gets to choose who gets to be the President of the United States (or at least, like the way Florida's governor gets to choose who gets to be the President of the United States).
oggbashan
Dying Truth seeker
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Rotten Boroughs existed until the 19th Century when the first of several 'Reform Acts' were passed.
Birmingham and Manchester had no Members of Parliament but Dunwich, a town that had fallen into the sea and was reduced to a tiny village, had I think 2 MPs.
Dickens wrote a description of an election at a rotten borough called 'Eatanswill' where the few electors were wined and dined by the prospective MP. The USSR used Dickens' description as propaganda for the corruption of the capitalist democracies.
Og
Edited for PS: Found this which is more accurate than I am.
Rotten Borough
Birmingham and Manchester had no Members of Parliament but Dunwich, a town that had fallen into the sea and was reduced to a tiny village, had I think 2 MPs.
Dickens wrote a description of an election at a rotten borough called 'Eatanswill' where the few electors were wined and dined by the prospective MP. The USSR used Dickens' description as propaganda for the corruption of the capitalist democracies.
Og
Edited for PS: Found this which is more accurate than I am.
Rotten Borough
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