THE LEGACY of the MAGNA CARTA MAGNA CARTA 1215 the Magna Carta Controlled the Power Government Ruled with the Consent of Eventually Spreading Around the Globe

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THE LEGACY OF THE MAGNA CARTA MAGNA CARTA 1215 The Magna Carta controlled the power government ruled with the consent of eventually spreading around the globe. of the King for the first time in English the people. The Magna Carta was only Reissues of the Magna Carta reminded history. It began the tradition of respect valid for three months before it was people of the rights and freedoms it gave for the law, limits on government annulled, but the tradition it began them. Its inclusion in the statute books power, and a social contract where the has lived on in English law and society, meant every British lawyer studied it. PETITION OF RIGHT 1628 Sir Edward Coke drafted a document King Charles I was not persuaded by By creating the Petition of Right which harked back to the Magna Carta the Petition and continued to abuse Parliament worked together to and aimed to prevent royal interference his power. This led to a civil war, and challenge the King. The English Bill with individual rights and freedoms. the King ultimately lost power, and his of Rights and the Constitution of the Though passed by the Parliament, head! United States were influenced by it. HABEAS CORPUS ACT 1679 The writ of Habeas Corpus gives imprisonment. In 1697 the House of Habeas Corpus is a writ that exists in a person who is imprisoned the Lords passed the Habeas Corpus Act. It many countries with common law opportunity to go before a court now applies to everyone everywhere in legal systems. and challenge the lawfulness of their the United Kingdom. ENGLISH BILL OF RIGHTS 1689 This document limited Royal power established the importance of an elected of the rule of law, and protecting the and contained a list of individual rights Parliament who would make laws for rights and freedoms granted by the that were to be respected under the law. the people. Magna Carta. This list drew heavily on the Magna Like the Petition of Right it influenced Carta and the Petition of Right. It listed countries around the world and marked the wrongdoings of the King and also a key step in securing the development US DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE 1768 The US Declaration of Independence Men, deriving their just powers from was the result of a belief that the the consent of the governed.” protections of the Magna Carta applied The drafters of the Declaration of in America. It echoed the ideas of Independence drew inspiration from the Magna Carta as it declared that the work of Sir Edward Coke and the “Governments are instituted among Magna Carta. CONSTITUTIONS The Australian Constitution (1901) State shall take steps to separate the upholds the rule of law principle that judiciary from the executive. the law is made by representatives of The Constitution of Fiji (2013) states the people. The Constitution stipulates that the Republic of Fiji is “founded on in Section 24 that “The House of the values of ... freedom and the rule of Representatives shall be composed of law.” members directly chosen by the people The Constitution of Uganda (1995) of the Commonwealth.” also features the rule of law, stating that The Constitution of India (1949) he duties of a citizen are “to promote upholds the independence of the democracy and the rule of law.” judiciary. Section 50 states that “The UNIVERSAL DECLARATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS 1948 After the horrors of the Second World The UDHR was drafted by War representatives from around the Eleanor Roosevelt, Chair of the UN world gathered to draft a treaty that Commission on Human Rights. She would prevent future wars and preserve was an advocate for human peace and freedom. The result was the rights around the world, Universal Declaration of Human Rights and called the UDHR “the (UDHR). The UDHR was the first ever international Magna Carta for declaration of the fundamental rights all men everywhere.” and values of the entire human race. ICCPR AND ICESCR 1966 After the UDHR other international most well known. treaties were drafted to protect freedom These documents provide around the world. The International a more detailed description Covenant on Civil and Political of the rights described in the Rights (ICCPR) and the International UDHR. The contain echoes of Covenant on Economic, Social, and the freedoms mentioned in the Cultural Rights (ICESCR) are the two Magna Carta.