Sussex, was a constituency of the House of Commons of the Parliament of England then of the Parliament of Great Britain from 1707 to 1800 and of the Parliament of the United Kingdom from 1801 to 1832. It was represented by two Members of Parliament until 1832. A County constituency is a constituency in the United Kingdom that covers a predominantly rural area. ... For broader historical context, see 1290s and 13th century. ... 1832 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... In the United Kingdom each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly. ... The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and is now the dominant branch of Parliament. ... In the United Kingdom each of the electoral areas or divisions called constituencies elects one or more members to a parliament or assembly. ... The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, and is now the dominant branch of Parliament. ... The Parliament of England can trace its roots back to the early medieval period. ... The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... The Houses of Parliament, seen over Westminster Bridge The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... A Member of Parliament, or MP, is a representative elected by the voters of an electoral district to a parliament; in the Westminster system, specifically to the lower house. ...

The constituency was split into two two-member divisions, for Parliamentary purposes, in 1832. The county was then represented by the Sussex Eastern and Sussex Western constituencies.

Boundaries

Sussex was one of of the historic counties of England. The constituency comprised the whole county, except for the boroughs of Arundel, Bramber, Chichester, East Grinstead, Horsham, Lewes, Midhurst, New Shoreham and Steyning. Sussex is a traditional county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. ... The traditional counties of England are historic subdivisions of the country of England into around 40 regions. ... Parliamentary boroughs are boroughs that are entitled to representation in a Parliament. ... Arundel was twice a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom. ... Chichester is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... East Grinstead was a parliamentary constituency in the United Kingdom. ... Horsham is a constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Lewes is a constituency located in East Sussex and centred on the town of Lewes. ...

Members of Parliament

Elections

The county franchise, from 1430, was held by the adult male owners of freehold land valued at 40 shillings or more. Each elector had as many votes as there were seats to be filled. Votes had to be cast by a spoken declaration, in public, at the hustings, which took place in the county town of Chichester. The expense and difficulty of voting at only one location in the county, together with the lack of a secret ballot contributed to the corruption and intimidation of electors, which was widespread in the unreformed British political system. Husting (Old English: hiesting; Old Norwegian: hzesthing), the thing or ting, i. ... A county town is the location of the administrative headquarters of a county. ... Chichester is a small city in the south of England, in the county of West Sussex, with a population of about 25,000. ...

The expense, to candidates, of contested elections encouraged the leading families of the county to agree on the candidates to be returned unopposed whenever possible. Contested county elections were therefore unusual.

See also

• List of former United Kingdom Parliamentary constituencies
• Unreformed House of Commons

This is a list of former Parliamentary constituencies in the United Kingdom, organised by date of abolition. ... The House of Commons in the 18th century The unreformed House of Commons is the name generally given to the British House of Commons as it existed before the Reform Act of 1832. ...

References