GEOGRAPHY AND HISTORY DEPARTMENT.

IES FRAY PEDRO DE URBINA

Bill of Rights 1689

The Bill of Rights was passed by Parliament in December 1689. It was presented by the Convention Parliament to William and Mary in March 1689, inviting them to become joint sovereigns of England. It enumerates certain rights to which subjects and permanent residents of a constitutional monarchy were thought to be entitled in the late 17th century, asserting subjects' right to petition the monarch, as well as to have arms in defence. (These ideas about rights were birthed by political thinker John Locke and they quickly became popular in England.) It also sets outor, in the view of its drafters, restatescertain constitutional requirements of the Crown to seek the consent of the people, as represented in parliament. In the United Kingdom, the Bill of Rights is further accompanied by the Magna Carta, Habeas Corpus Act 1679 and Parliament Acts 1911 and 1949 as some of the basic documents of the uncodified British constitution. The act set out that there should be:

no royal interference with the law. Though the sovereign remains the fount of justice, he or she cannot unilaterally establish new courts or act as a judge. no taxation by Royal Prerogative. The agreement of parliament became necessary for the implementation of any new taxes. freedom to petition the monarch without fear of retribution no standing army during a time of peace. The agreement of parliament became necessary before the army could be moved against the populace when not at war. no royal interference in the freedom of the people to have arms for their own defence as suitable to their class and as allowed by law (simultaneously restoring rights previously lost by Protestants) no royal interference in the election of members of parliament freedom of speech and debates; proceedings in Parliament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament.