Parliamentary Qualification of Women Act 1918
Encyclopedia
The Parliament 1918 is an Act
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
.
It gave women over 21 the right to stand for election as an MP
. This meant that women could stand for elections before actually being legally allowed to vote themselves. ("Before" in both senses. Certain women over the age of 30 had been given the franchise by the Representation of the People Act 1918
; it was not until 1928
that women were given the vote on equal terms with men.)
At 27 words it is the shortest UK statute.
Act of Parliament
An Act of Parliament is a statute enacted as primary legislation by a national or sub-national parliament. In the Republic of Ireland the term Act of the Oireachtas is used, and in the United States the term Act of Congress is used.In Commonwealth countries, the term is used both in a narrow...
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
.
It gave women over 21 the right to stand for election as an MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
. This meant that women could stand for elections before actually being legally allowed to vote themselves. ("Before" in both senses. Certain women over the age of 30 had been given the franchise by the Representation of the People Act 1918
Representation of the People Act 1918
The Representation of the People Act 1918 was an Act of Parliament passed to reform the electoral system in the United Kingdom. It is sometimes known as the Fourth Reform Act...
; it was not until 1928
Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1928
The Representation of the People Act 1928 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. This act expanded on the Representation of the People Act 1918 which had given some women the vote in Parliamentary elections for the first time after World War I. It widened suffrage by giving women...
that women were given the vote on equal terms with men.)
At 27 words it is the shortest UK statute.