franchise american history definition
1. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) the franchise the right to vote, esp for representatives in a legislative body; suffrage. 2. (Government, Politics & Diplomacy) any exemption, privilege, or right granted to an individual or group by a public authority, such as the right to use public property for a business. 3. (Commerce) commerce authorization granted by a manufacturing enterprise to a distributor to market the manufacturer's products.