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Quo warranto

Quo warranto, a writ issuable out of the King's Bench Division of the High Court of Justice, in the nature of a writ of right for the Crown against him who claims or usurps any office, franchise, or liberty to inquire 'by what authority' he supports his claim, in order to determine the right. It lies also in case of non-user or long neglect of a franchise, or mis-user or abuse of it, whereby it is forfeited.This proceeding was, until 1872, the one generally adopted for the purpose of trying the right to be elected to municipal offices, but the (English) Corrupt Practices (Municipal Elections) Act, 1872, by s. 12, replaced by the (English) Municipal Corporations Act, 1882, s. 87 [see now s. 71 of the (English) Local Government Act, 1933 (23 & 24 Geo. 5, c. 51)], substituted an election petition in the cases where an election is sought to be questioned on the ground of bribery, etc., disqualification, or undue return. By s. 84 of the Act of 1933, proceedings must be instituted within six...