Legal Definitions - scot and lot

Definition: Scot and lot refers to a historical practice of paying taxes based on one's ability to pay. It can also refer to a municipal tax on the right to vote.

Example 1: In medieval England, scot and lot was a way for wealthy landowners to contribute more to the community than poor peasants. The amount of tax paid was based on the value of one's property and income.

Example 2: In some American colonies, scot and lot was a requirement for voting. This meant that only those who paid a certain amount of taxes were allowed to vote in local elections.

These examples illustrate how scot and lot was used to determine who had the ability to pay taxes and who had the right to vote. It was a way to ensure that those who contributed more to the community had a greater say in how it was governed.