franchise

In politics, the eligibility, right, or privilege to vote at public elections, especially for the members of a legislative body, or parliament. In the UK adult citizens are eligible to vote from the age of 18, with the exclusion of peers, the insane, and criminals. The voting age for adults in the USA was lowered from 21 to 18 by the Twenty-Sixth Amendment in 1971, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965 eliminated local laws that restricted full participation by minorities.

It was 1918 before all men in the UK had the right to vote, and 1928 before women were enfranchised; in New Zealand women were granted the right as early as 1893.

franchise

In business, the right given by one company to another to manufacture, distribute, or provide its branded products. It is usual for the franchisor to impose minimum quality conditions on its franchisees to ensure that customers receive a fair deal and that the brand image is maintained. Famous examples of retail franchise outlets include McDonald's and the Body Shop.

The franchisor is also often responsible for advertising and product development. It may insist on franchisees buying raw materials from it alone. The franchisee has to pay a levy, usually a percentage of either profit or turnover, to the franchisor.

Examples of franchise operations in the USA include fast-food restaurants, auto-repair shops, and speciality stores, where the owner/managers have purchased the right to operate a brand-name business using materials supplied by the manufacturer for a percentage of the profits.