Old English Documents
Magna Carta
• Year signed: 1215
• Why was it created?
–Disagreements between the Pope,
the King, and English Barons. They
thought that the king was abusing
his powers with heavy taxes and
random rules.
• Habeas Corpus: a court order that
mandates that a prisoner is brought
before the court so that the court can
determine if that person is being held
lawfully….intent was to prevent unlawful
imprisonment.
• How did the Magna Carta change the
power of the king?
–In theory, it limited the power of the
king.
• What is “Rule of Law”? No one is above the
law. Government is based on clear and
enforced laws.
• What is “limited government”? The
government no longer had absolute power.
Petition of Right
• Year signed: 1628
• Why was it created?
–To limit the power of King
Charles I
Petition of Right
• No taxes without consent of
Parliament
• No quartering of the troops
• No imprisonment with out cause –
reaffirming Habeas Corpus
• No martial law in times of peace
English Bill of Rights
• Year Established: 1689
• Why created? Following Civil War, created to
reaffirm Citizen’s rights and established
Parliament’s power. William and Mary agreed
to it.
English Bill of Rights
• Freedom from royal interference with the law
• No taxation without representation
• Right to petition monarch
• Freedom from a peace-time standing army without
agreement from Parliament
• Right to have arms for defense
• Right to elect members to Parliament
• Freedom of Speech in Parliament
• Trial By Jury
• Freedom from cruel and unusual
punishment