2.) Milestones in the History and Development of the British Constitution Flashcards
When was the Magna Carta written?
1215
How many clauses was there in the Magna Carta?
63
Why is the Magna Carta important?
It guaranteed the right to a fair trial
Name three documents the Magna Carta has influenced?
-The American Declaration of Independence
-The Universal Declaration of Human Rights
-European Convention on Human Rights
Why is the Magna Carta criticised?
-Silent about the rights of ordinary people
-Out of 63 clauses, only 4 aren’t repealed today
-Many of its items refer to the period of its writing and are unsuitable for the modern day
When was the UK Bill of Rights written?
1689
What event did the Bill of Rights follow from?
The Glorious Revolution of 1688
What did the Bill of Rights mandate?
-Frequent Parliaments
-Free elections
-Freedom of speech within Parliament
-No taxation without Parliamentary agreement
What is the right to say anything in Parliament without legal issues known as?
Parliamentary privilege
Why is the Bill of Rights significant?
-It turned Parliament into a permanent structure, which has met every year since 1689
-Established monarchy as second-fiddle to Parliament
Why is the Bill of Rights (1689) criticised?
-It doesn’t cover the rights of ordinary people
-It only established rights for those working within Parliament, mainly wealthy land owners
When was the Act of Settlement written?
1701
What was the Act of Settlement?
-Ensured line of succession for monarchy was Protestant only
Why was the Act of Settlement important?
Because Parliament was instructing the monarchy what was acceptable for the first time, not the other way around
Why is Act of Settlement (1701) criticised?
-Act did nothing to help bring democracy to the UK
-Restricting monarch to a specific faith is anti-equality and unfair
