PARLIAMENTARY BURGH Meaning and
Definition
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A parliamentary burgh refers to a specific type of administrative division or local government unit in Scotland, with origins dating back to medieval times. It refers to a town or borough that has been granted certain rights and privileges by the sovereign, particularly the right to send representatives (or burgesses) to the Scottish Parliament or the Parliament of Great Britain.
In this context, the term "parliamentary" signifies the town's role in the legislative process by participating in parliamentary bodies. A burgh is an ancient term that originally denoted a fortified town, but over time, its meaning evolved to represent a self-governing municipality.
The status of a parliamentary burgh was typically granted by royal charter, giving it the legal standing and authority to elect its own representatives to the national legislature. These representatives, known as burgesses, had the responsibility of representing the interests and concerns of their respective burghs in the parliament.
Parliamentary burghs played a prominent role in Scottish political life until the early 19th century when the system underwent significant reforms. The 1832 Reform Act, which aimed to modernize and democratize the electoral system, abolished many of the traditional parliamentary burghs, redistributing their seats to larger cities and towns.
Today, the concept of parliamentary burghs is mainly of historical significance, though some remnants may still exist in the names of certain towns or cities in Scotland.
Etymology of PARLIAMENTARY BURGH
The term "parliamentary burgh" originated in Scotland and has a specific historical and political context.
The word "burgh" is derived from the Old English word "burh", which means "fortified place" or "town". It dates back to the early medieval period in Scotland when towns were often surrounded by walls or other defensive structures.
The term "parliamentary" refers to the role of the burgh in the Scottish Parliament. In Scotland, a parliamentary burgh was a town or city that had been granted the right to elect representatives to the Parliament. This system developed in the Middle Ages when the Scottish Parliament was established, and certain burghs were granted the privilege of sending representatives to the legislative body. These burghs had specific rights, privileges, and responsibilities within the political system of Scotland.
