Franchise

A business relationship in which an owner (the franchisor) licenses others (the franchisees) to operate outlets using business concepts, property, trademarks and tradenames owned by the franchisor.

2. A right reserved to the people by the constitution; hence we say the elective franchise to designate the right of the people to elect their officers.

3. A certain privilege conferred by grant from the government and vested in individuals.

Corporations or bodies politic are the most usual franchises known to our law. They have been classed among incorporeal hereditaments, perhaps improperly, as they have no inheritable quality.

In England franchises are very numerous and are said to be royal privileges in the hands of a subject.
   

This entry contains material from Bouvier's Legal Dictionary, a work published in the 1850's.

1. A special privilege that is conferred by the government uponindividuals and that does not of common right belong to the citizens of thecountry. For example, a municipality may grant to a local bus company afranchise that will give it sole authority to operate buses in the municipalityfor a certain number of years. 2. The right given to a private person orcorporation to market another's product within a certain area. 3. Electivefranchise (sometimes called simply "the franchise") refers to the right ofcitizens to vote in public elections.