English-Bill-of-Rights1.pdf

is a landmark Act of the English Parliament that formally established certain civil rights and liberties, and clarified the succession to the English throne. It was a key event in the Glorious Revolution and aimed to limit the power of the monarchy and strengthen the role of Parliament. The Bill of Rights is still a significant part of English constitutional law and has influenced similar documents in other countries, including the US Bill of Rights.

Here's a more detailed look at the Bill of Rights 1689:

Key Provisions:

**Limitation of Monarchical Power:**The Bill explicitly prohibited the monarch from suspending or dispensing with laws without Parliament's consent, raising taxes without parliamentary approval, or maintaining a standing army in peacetime.

• **Limitation of Monarchical Power:**The Bill explicitly prohibited the monarch from suspending or dispensing with laws without Parliament's consent, raising taxes without parliamentary approval, or maintaining a standing army in peacetime.

**Parliamentary Supremacy:**It established the principle of parliamentary supremacy, meaning that Parliament became the supreme law-making body.

• **Parliamentary Supremacy:**It established the principle of parliamentary supremacy, meaning that Parliament became the supreme law-making body.

**Individual Rights:**The Bill affirmed rights such as freedom of speech and debate in Parliament, the right to petition the monarch, and freedom from cruel and unusual punishment.

• **Individual Rights:**The Bill affirmed rights such as freedom of speech and debate in Parliament, the right to petition the monarch, and freedom from cruel and unusual punishment.

**Regular Parliaments and Elections:**It mandated frequent parliaments and regular elections, ensuring greater representation and accountability of the government.

• **Regular Parliaments and Elections:**It mandated frequent parliaments and regular elections, ensuring greater representation and accountability of the government.

**Succession to the Crown:**The Bill settled the succession, passing the crown to William and Mary, and subsequently to Mary's sister, Anne, and her heirs.

• **Succession to the Crown:**The Bill settled the succession, passing the crown to William and Mary, and subsequently to Mary's sister, Anne, and her heirs.

**Prohibition on Catholics as Monarchs:**The Bill also stipulated that no Roman Catholic could inherit the throne.

• **Prohibition on Catholics as Monarchs:**The Bill also stipulated that no Roman Catholic could inherit the throne.

Historical Context:

The Bill of Rights 1689 emerged from the Glorious Revolution, a period of political upheaval in which James II was deposed due to his pro-Catholic policies and attempts to exert absolute power. Parliament offered the throne to William and Mary, requiring them to accept the Declaration of Rights (which was later enacted as the Bill of Rights) as a condition of their accession.

Significance:

**Constitutional Landmark:**The Bill of Rights 1689 is considered a cornerstone of English constitutional law, laying the foundation for limited government and individual liberties.