12 dates which shaped Britain's constitutional monarchy Flashcards
1215
Magna Carta
A charter presented by a delegation of Barons in order to establish the respective rights and duties of the King, the Church and the Barons. It:
- guaranteed the freedom of the Church
- curtailed the powers of the king (who could not impose taxes without the agreement of a council)
- protected individuals against arbitrary punishment without prior judgement.
It is considered as a first step in the resistance against royal despotism and towards individual liberty.
1534
The Act of Supremacy
Made Henry VIII “supreme head of the Church of England” and set aside the authoriry of the Pope.
This was the starting point of Reformation in England, it became a Protestant country and the monasteries were dissolved.
1628
The Petition of Right
A Declaration limiting royal power that Charles I was forced to accept. It demanded that:
- no taxes should be levied without the consent of Parliament
- no one be imprisoned without trial
Following from the Magna Carta, it asserts the rights of the individuals. Although Charles I signed the Petition, he did not abide by it, which led to the Civil War.
1679
Habeas Corpus
Voted by Parliament to forbid arbitrary arrests and imprisonment. Prisoners must be brought before a judge or a jury within three days of their arrest, and either charged or freed.
It was a reaction against Charles II’s arbitrary detention of people. It is still in force today, but it can be suspended in times of crisis.
1689
The Bill of Rights
Makes the arbitrary use of royal power illegal. The sovereign now must govern according to the statutes voted by Parliament, cannot raise taxtes unless Parliament has agreed and excludes Catholics from the succession to the throne.
1701
Act of Settlement
States that the Sovereign cannot be a Catholic and that illegitimate or adopted persons cannot succeed to the throne either.
1707
Acts of Union
The 1707 Act of Union united England to Scotland. A second one in 1800 united them to Ireland. Both Ireland and Scotland lost their respective Parliaments and sent their MPs to Westminster.
In 1921, part of Ireland obtained Home Rile and left the U.K.
Now, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales have gained a measure of autonomy, with Parliaments and an assembly.
1832
Reform Act
It extended the franchise by giving the vote to more property owner (much of the middle-class) and reformed the constituencies, regulating between cities which had grown very quickly because of the industrial revolution and were not represented and smaller town or rotten boroughs with several MPs.
1911
Parliament Act
Limited the powers of the House of the Lords and established the elected chamber, the Commons, as the supreme legislative body. It also established that general elections must take place every five years (instead of seven).
1928
Equal Franchise Act
After the 1832 Reform Act, a series of other acts gradually extended the franchise until 1928, when all men and women aged 21 and over could vote.
In 1969, the age was lowered to 18.
1972
European Communities Act
After the United Kingdom joined the EEC in 1973, European laws and the decisions of the European Court of Justice started taking precedence over U.K. laws.
** 2000**
The European Convention on Human Rights
The European Court of Human Rights can overrule the decisions taken in U.K. courts.
Magna Carta
A charter presented by a delegation of Barons in order to establish the respective rights and duties of the King, the Church and the Barons. It:
- guaranteed the freedom of the Church
- curtailed the powers of the king (who could not impose taxes without the agreement of a council)
- protected individuals against arbitrary punishment without prior judgement.
It is considered as a first step in the resistance against royal despotism and towards individual liberty.
1215
The Act of Supremacy
Made Henry VIII “supreme head of the Church of England” and set aside the authoriry of the Pope.
This was the starting point of Reformation in England, it became a Protestant country and the monasteries were dissolved.
1534
The Petition of Right
A Declaration limiting royal power that Charles I was forced to accept. It demanded that:
- no taxes should be levied without the consent of Parliament
- no one be imprisoned without trial
Following from the Magna Carta, it asserts the rights of the individuals. Although Charles I signed the Petition, he did not abide by it, which led to the Civil War.
1628
