Septennial Act 1715 facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Septennial Act 1715

Act of Parliament
Parliament of Great Britain
Long title	An Act for enlarging the Time of Continuance of Parliaments, appointed by an Act made in the Sixth Year of the Reign of King William and Queen Mary, intituled, "An Act for the frequent meeting and calling of Parliaments."
Citation	1 Geo. 1. St. 2. c. 38
Introduced by	Duke of Devonshire (Lords)
Territorial extent	England and Wales Scotland
Dates
Repealed	15 September 2011
Other legislation
Amended by	Parliament Act 1911
Repealed by	Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011
Status: Repealed
Text of the Septennial Act 1715 as in force today (including any amendments) within the United Kingdom, from legislation.gov.uk

The Septennial Act 1715 was an important Act (a law made by the government) in Great Britain. It was passed in May 1716. This law changed how long a parliament could last. Before this Act, a parliament could only last for a maximum of three years. This rule was set by the Triennial Act 1694.

The Septennial Act changed this maximum time from three years to seven years. This meant that general elections (when people vote for their representatives) would happen less often. This seven-year limit stayed in place for a very long time, from 1716 until 1911. The Act was later changed in 1911 to make the maximum term five years. Finally, it was completely removed in 2011 by the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011.

What Did the Septennial Act Do?

The main goal of the Septennial Act 1715 was to make elections happen less often. This was supposed to save money, as elections were expensive back then. The Act didn't force parliaments to last for seven years, but it set that as the longest they could go without a new election.

Most parliaments in the 1700s did last for six or seven years. However, in the 1800s, the average length of a parliament in the Parliament of the United Kingdom was about four years. Some groups, like the Chartists in the mid-1800s, wanted elections to happen every year.

Why Was This Law Created?

The main reason given for the Septennial Act was to cut down on the costs of holding elections frequently. However, it also had another important effect. It helped the Whig party stay in power for a longer time. The Whigs had won the election in 1715, and this Act allowed them to remain in control for up to seven years instead of three. They also won the next election in 1722.

Was the Act Fair?

Some important thinkers and politicians did not agree with the Septennial Act. They felt it went against the true spirit of how the government should work.

For example, James Madison, one of the people who helped create the American constitution, used this Act to show a difference between the British system and the new American one. He said that in Britain, the government could change its own rules (like how long a parliament lasts). But in America, the people set the rules in the Constitution, and the government couldn't easily change them.

Other famous people like Thomas Paine and Henry St John, 1st Viscount Bolingbroke also criticized the Act. Bolingbroke believed that the "constitution is the rule by which our princes ought to govern at all times." This meant he thought the rules for government should be fixed and not easily changed by those in power.

How Parliament Terms Were Extended During Wars

Even after the Septennial Act, there were times when the life of a parliament was extended even further. This happened during the First World War and Second World War. During these major conflicts, special laws were passed to allow the current parliament to continue working until the war ended. This was done to provide stability during difficult times.

First World War Extensions

During the First World War, a series of Acts were passed to keep the parliament that was elected in December 1910 going until the war finished in 1918.

Second World War Extensions

Similarly, during the Second World War, annual Acts were passed. These laws allowed the parliament elected in the 1935 general election to continue until the war in Europe ended in mid-1945.

Related Topics

• List of Acts of the Parliament of Great Britain
• List of parliaments of Great Britain