House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975
Encyclopedia
The House of Commons Disqualification Act 1975 is an Act
of the Parliament of the United Kingdom
that prohibits certain categories of people from becoming members
of the House of Commons
. It was an updated version of similar older acts, including the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1957.
Some of the prohibited groups at the time the Act first came into effect were:
This Act has been updated by subsequent legislation. Since the House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Act 2001
, no clergy except for Church of England
bishop
s (see Lords Spiritual
) are now prohibited from serving. Section 10 of this Act was repealed by section 1 of, and Schedule 2 to, that Act.
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...
that prohibits certain categories of people from becoming members
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,...
of the House of Commons
British House of Commons
The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, which also comprises the Sovereign and the House of Lords . Both Commons and Lords meet in the Palace of Westminster. The Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 650 members , who are known as Members...
. It was an updated version of similar older acts, including the House of Commons Disqualification Act 1957.
Some of the prohibited groups at the time the Act first came into effect were:
- judges
- serving regular members of the armed forces
- civil servantsBritish Civil ServiceHer Majesty's Home Civil Service, also known as the Home Civil Service, is the permanent bureaucracy of Crown employees that supports Her Majesty's Government - the government of the United Kingdom, composed of a Cabinet of ministers chosen by the prime minister, as well as the devolved...
- ordained ministers
- members of legislatures of non-CommonwealthCommonwealth of NationsThe Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
countries (except for IrelandRepublic of IrelandIreland , described as the Republic of Ireland , is a sovereign state in Europe occupying approximately five-sixths of the island of the same name. Its capital is Dublin. Ireland, which had a population of 4.58 million in 2011, is a constitutional republic governed as a parliamentary democracy,...
, pursuant to the Disqualifications Act 2000Disqualifications Act 2000The Disqualifications Act 2000 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It gained Royal Assent on 30 November 2000. The Act extends a privilege to Ireland whereby persons elected to sit in its houses of parliament are eligible, if elected/appointed, to sit in a house of the parliament of...
)
This Act has been updated by subsequent legislation. Since the House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Act 2001
House of Commons (Removal of Clergy Disqualification) Act 2001
The House of Commons Act 2001 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. The purpose of the Act was to remove the disqualifications for clergy in standing for election as Members of Parliament and sitting in the House of Commons. The Act also allowed clergy to sit in other elected bodies...
, no clergy except for Church of England
Church of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s (see Lords Spiritual
Lords Spiritual
The Lords Spiritual of the United Kingdom, also called Spiritual Peers, are the 26 bishops of the established Church of England who serve in the House of Lords along with the Lords Temporal. The Church of Scotland, which is Presbyterian, is not represented by spiritual peers...
) are now prohibited from serving. Section 10 of this Act was repealed by section 1 of, and Schedule 2 to, that Act.