Editing Quo warranto (section)

{{Short description|Legal document requiring the addressee to prove their authority to act}}
{{italic title}}
{{Prerogative writs}}
{{Administrative law}}

In the English-American [[common law]], '''''quo warranto''''' ([[Latin language|Medieval Latin]] for "by what warrant?") is a [[prerogative writ]] issued by a [[court]] which orders someone to show what authority they have for exercising some right, power, or [[exclusive right|franchise]] they claim to hold. The writ of ''quo warranto'' still exists in the [[United States]], although it is uncommon, but it has been abolished in [[England]] and [[Wales]]. ''Quo warranto'' is also used, with slightly different effect, in the [[Philippines]].