Magna Carta 1215 ● issued in June 1215 at Runnymede

● the first written document to establish the idea that the king and
his government were not above the law
● prevented monarch from exploiting power
● limits of royal authority by establishing law as a power in itself

Bill of Rights 1689 ● The Bill of Rights 1689 is an Act of Parliament

● Crucial landmark/ basic document in English constitutional law that
sets out certain basic civil rights that those living under a
constitutional monarchy ought to have and clarifies who would be
next to inherit the Crown
● Requires the Crown to seek the consent of the people as
represented in Parliament (constitutional)
● It established the rights of Parliament, free elections, and freedom
of speech.
● prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment and the right not to
pay taxes levied without the approval of Parliament.
● rights and liberties of the individual were protected under English
law.

Act of Settlement ● Reinforced the Bill of Rights

1701 ● Main aim was to ensure protestant succession to the English
throne
● Extended to Scotland in 1707 due to the Act of Union
● Due to this George 1’s mother - Sophia- Electress of Hanover would
have succeeded Queen Anne despite there being over 50 Catholic
claimants.
● Other clauses were that judges could only be removed by
parliament
● It worked to ensure a parliamentary system of government
● Strengthened principle that government was undertaken by
Sovereign and their constitutional advisors, not by the Sovereign
and personal advisors they choose.

Parliaments Acts ● The Parliament Act 1911 sought to remove the power of the House
1911 and 1949 of Lords to reject the money bills.
● The Parliament Act 1911 changed the constitution as it replaced
the Lords’ veto over other public bills with the power of delay.
● The Parliament Act 1911 was significant as it was proposed to
reduce the maximum duration of a Parliament from 7 years to 5.
● The Parliament Act 1949 was when labour sought to reduce the
Lords’ power further, by reducing the time that the House of Lords
could delay bills from 3 sessions over 2 years to 2 sessions over 1
year.
● The Parliaments Act 1949 changed the constitution as it replaced
the Lords’ right to veto common Bills with a right only to delay
them and put into law the commons’ exclusive powers to pass Bills
 on public tax and spending.
● The Parliament Act 1949 was significant because it saw the Labour
Party, elected in 1945, take on the upper house.
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