Riot Act
Defined in 2 dictionaries — Cyclopedic (1922), Black's (1910)
The Cyclopedic Law Dictionary
Walter A. Shumaker and George Foster Longsdorf; ed. James C. Cahill · 1922
St. 1 Geo. I. st. 2, c. 5, providing that, if any twelve persons or more are committing a riot, any sheriff, mayor, or certain other officers shall by proclamation in the king's name command them to disperse (which is familiarly called "reading the riot act"), and that, if they refuse to obey, and remain together for the space of one hour after such proclamation, they are all guilty of felony. RIOTOSE (Law Lat. riotously.) A formal and essential word in old indictments for riots. 2 Strange, 834. Riotose et routose, riotously and routously. 2 Salk. 593.
Black's Law Dictionary
Henry Campbell Black, M.A. · 1910
A celebrated English statute, which provides that, if any twelve persons or more are unlawfully assembled and disfurbing the peace, any sheriff, under-sheriff, justice of the peace, or mayor may, by proclamation, command them to disperse, (which is familiarly called "reading the riot act,") and that if they refuse to obey and remnin together for the space of one hour after such proclamation, they are all guilty oi felony. The act is 1 Geo. I. St. 2. c. 5.
Defined under Riot in Black's Law Dictionary.