Sale of Offices Act 1551 facts for kids
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| Long title | An Act against buyinge and sellinge of offices. |
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| Citation | 5 & 6 Edw. 6. c. 16 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Statute Law (Repeals) Act 2013 |
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Status: Repealed
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| Revised text of statute as amended | |
The Sale of Offices Act 1551 was an important law made by the Parliament of England. Its main goal was to stop corruption when people got jobs in the government. This law made it illegal to buy or sell these jobs.
Today, this old law has mostly been cancelled, or "repealed," in the United Kingdom since 2013. However, some parts of it are still active in the Republic of Ireland. There, it's still against the law to sell certain government jobs or to take money for them.
Contents
What is a Public Office?
A "public office" means a job where someone works for the government or serves the public. Think of jobs like a judge, a tax collector, or someone who helps manage a town. These jobs are very important because they affect everyone.
Why Was This Law Created?
Back in the 1500s, it was sometimes possible for people to buy or sell important government jobs. This was a big problem because:
- It meant that the best person for the job might not get it.
- Someone who paid for a job might not be good at it.
- It could lead to people using their power for their own gain, not for the public good.
The Sale of Offices Act 1551 was created to stop this unfair practice. It aimed to make sure that people got government jobs based on their skills, not on how much money they had.
How the Law Changed Over Time
Over the centuries, other laws were made that affected the Sale of Offices Act 1551:
- In 1809, another law, the Sale of Offices Act 1809, made the 1551 Act apply to Scotland and Ireland too. It also covered all jobs given out by the King or Queen.
- Later, in 1826, parts of the 1551 Act were cancelled for jobs related to customs (taxes on goods coming into a country).
- Finally, in 2013, the entire Sale of Offices Act 1551 was officially repealed in the United Kingdom. This means it is no longer a law there.
The Law in Ireland
Even though the law was repealed in the UK, some parts of it were kept for the Republic of Ireland. This means that in Ireland, it is still illegal to sell or buy certain public jobs. This shows how some very old laws can still have an impact today, even if they are changed over time.
