Franchise - Definition - Law Dictionary Home Dictionary Definition franchise

Definition :

Franchise, an incorporeal hereditament synony-mous with liberty. A royal privilege or branch of the Crown's prerogative subsisting in the hands of a subject. It arises either from royal grant, or from prescription, which pre-supposes a grant. The kinds are almost infinite, but the principal are: bodies corporate, the right to hold Courtsleet, fairs markets, ferries, forests, chases, parks, warrens, fisheries. The remedy for disturbance is an action. See COPYHOLDS, 1 Steph. Com.

Also, the right of voting at an election for a member of Parliament. See ELECON.

1. The right to vote 2. The right conferred by government to engage in a specific business to exercise corporate powers, Black's Law Dictionary, 7th Edn.