A writ brought before a proper tribunal, to inquire by what warrant a person or a corporation acts, or exercises certain powers.
In the context of the Gazetteer, this refers to a series of enquiries held by royal judges who were sent on circuits around the country, chiefly in the reigns of King Edward I and King Edward II (1272–1327). In an attempt to assert royal rights, the justices attempted to discover by what right ( quo warranto) individuals or institutions were holding markets and fairs.
A proceeding to determine " by what right" someone holds a corporate office
a hearing to determine by what authority someone has an office or franchise or liberty
a common law writ designed to test whether a person exercising power is legally entitled to do so
A writ, prerogative in nature, addressed to preventing a continued exercise of powers that are not conferred by law; it is not ordinarily available to regulate the manner of exercising such powers.
A proceeding in court by which a governmental body tests or inquires into the authority or legality of the claim of any person to a public office, franchise, or privilege.
(kwo wo-ran'to) An order issuable by the state, through which it demands an individual to show by what right he or she exercises an authority or claims public office which can only be exercised or claimed through a valid grant or franchise from the state.
Lawsuit to try the title to a corporate franchise, or to a corporate of public office.
Latin and referring to a special legal procedure taken to stop a person or organization from doing something for which it may not have the legal authority, by demanding to know by what right they exercise the controversial authority.
Quo warranto (Medieval Latin for "by what warrant?") is one of the prerogative writs, the one that requires the person to whom it is directed to show what authority he has for exercising some right or power (or "franchise") he claims to hold.