Chiltern Hundreds - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition chiltern-hundreds

Definition :

Chiltern hundreds. A member of the House of Commons cannot resign his seat. He may, however, become disqualified by acceptance of an office of profit under the Crown. A member therefore usually vacates his seat by the acceptance of the stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds, or some other nominal office in the gift of the Chancellor of the Exchequer. The practice began about the year 1750; but the duties and profits of the stewardship have long since ceased, and the office is only retained to serve this particular purpose. The Chiltern Hills, a range of chalk eminences separating the counties of Bedford and Hertford, were formerly covered with thick beechwood, and sheltered numerous robbers; to put these marauders down, and protect the inhabitants of the neighbourhood from their depredations, an officer was appointed under the Crown called the Steward of the Chiltern Hundreds, which were Burnham, Desborough and Stoke.

The Crown, for the convenience of the House at large, is ordinarily ready to confer on any member the Stewardship of the Chiltern Hundreds, or of the Manor of Poynings, of East Hendred or Northstead. The office is retained until the appointment is revoked to make way for the appointment of another holder. Acceptance vacates the seat of the member. The office can be granted during a recess, but the statutory power of the Speaker for the issue of a writ during recess to fill up a vacancy caused by acceptance of office does not apply.-'May's Parl. Pr.; and see the explanation given by Sir William Harcourt in Parliament on 31st Jan., 1893 (8 Parl. Deb. 4th series, 50; The Times, 1st Feb., 1893, p. 6).