Representation of the People Act 1918

E166417

The Representation of the People Act 1918 was a landmark British law that massively expanded the electorate, including granting limited voting rights to women and most working-class men, and is seen as a major milestone in the democratization of the United Kingdom.

All labels observed (4)

How this entity was disambiguated

Statements (49)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Act of Parliament of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom electoral law
abolished most property qualifications for men
plural voting for most men
alsoKnownAs Fourth Reform Act
appliesToJurisdiction England
United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland
surface form: Ireland (then part of the United Kingdom)

Scotland
Wales
approximateElectorateIncrease from about 7.7 million to about 21.4 million voters
approximateMenVotersAdded about 5.2 million men
approximateWomenVotersAdded about 8.4 million women
cameIntoForce 1918
changedElectoralSystem increased number of Members of Parliament
redrew many parliamentary constituencies
country United Kingdom
effectOnElectorate extended the parliamentary franchise to most adult men
granted limited voting rights to women
greatly expanded the electorate
enabled participation of a much larger working-class electorate
excludedFromFranchise most women under 30 years of age
some poorer women over 30 without required property qualifications
grantedVoteTo men over 19 years of age who had served in the armed forces during the First World War
men over 21 years of age meeting residence requirements
women over 30 years of age meeting property qualifications
historicalContext enacted near the end of the First World War
historicalSignificance first time women were enfranchised for parliamentary elections in the UK
major milestone in the democratization of the United Kingdom
impactOnPolitics contributed to rise of the Labour Party
introducedBy David Lloyd George ministry
language English
legislativeBody British Parliament
surface form: Parliament of the United Kingdom
relatedLegislation Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act 1918
Reform Act 1832
Reform Act 1867
Representation of the People Act 1928
surface form: Representation of the People (Equal Franchise) Act 1928

Representation of the People Act 1884
repealed yes
repealedBy Representation of the People Acts
surface form: Representation of the People Act 1948
retained some plural voting for business premises owners
some plural voting for university graduates
royalAssent 1918-02-06
shortName Representation of the People Act 1918 self-link
subject electoral reform
franchise expansion
suffrage
women's suffrage in the United Kingdom
usedFor elections to the House of Commons of the United Kingdom
yearEnacted 1918

How these facts were elicited

Referenced by (17)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

women's suffrage movement hasKeyEvent Representation of the People Act 1918
Representation of the People Act 1884 followedBy Representation of the People Act 1918
Representation of the People Act 1918 shortName Representation of the People Act 1918 self-link
Women's Social and Political Union campaignFocus Representation of the People Act 1918
this entity surface form: Representation of the People Bill
Emmeline Pankhurst influenced Representation of the People Act 1918
Representation of the People Act 1928 amended Representation of the People Act 1918
Representation of the People Act 1928 predecessor Representation of the People Act 1918
Caernarvon Boroughs abolishedBy Representation of the People Act 1918
National Union of Women's Suffrage Societies supportedLegislation Representation of the People Act 1918
Twickenham constituency boundaryChange Representation of the People Act 1918
subject surface form: Twickenham (UK Parliament constituency)
this entity surface form: 1918 Representation of the People Act
Reform Acts hasPart Representation of the People Act 1918
Liberal government of the United Kingdom implementedReform Representation of the People Act 1918
United Kingdom parliamentary constituencies reformedBy Representation of the People Act 1918
Representation of the People Acts hasPart Representation of the People Act 1918
Representation of the People Acts hasPart Representation of the People Act 1918
this entity surface form: Representation of the People Act 1918 (Session 2)
Representation of the People Acts notableWork Representation of the People Act 1918
Hammersmith (UK Parliament constituency) abolishedBy Representation of the People Act 1918