Magna Carta
The greatest constitutional document of all times – the foundation of the freedom of the individual against the authority of the despot
Key words
- Charter: a formal statement of the rights of a country's people, or of an organization or a particular social group, that is agreed by or demanded from a ruler or government
The Charter of the United Nations was signed in San Francisco in 1945.
- Amend: to change the words of a text, especially a law or a legal document
In line 20, the word "men" should be amended to "people".
- Clause: a particular part of a written legal document, for example a law passed by Parliament or a contract
They have added a clause in the contract which says the company can make people redundant.
- Water down: to make something weaker or less effective
The law was watered down after it failed to pass the legislature the first time.
- Due process: the legal right to be treated equally and fairly
The judge ruled that the defendant's due process rights had been violated.
Read the article to find the answers
- What does Magna Carta Libertatum translate to in English?
- What is it?
- Why did the Pope support King John?
- Which clauses are still in force in England today?
The Magna Carta
Magna Carta Libertatum is Latin for the Great Charter of Freedoms and is a single document originally issued in 1215. There were several revisions of the Magna Carta in 1216, 1217 and 1225, which has led some people to believe that it is a series of laws amended over the centuries rather than a single document.
The spirit of the document, freedom from the rule of a tyrannical monarch, has been used in constitutions around the world, most famously in the United States.