Chapter  42:  Fundamental  Texts  in  the  UK  

2014  

   

1)   The   Norman   Dawn:     Since   the   victory   of   Hastings   in   1066,   the   English   political   system   has   continued   to   evolve;  firstly  with  William  the  conqueror  who  replaced  the  old  assemblies  by  a  great  council  that  will  gradually   become  the  common  council.  

MILESTONES  :   •

1066  :Battle  of   Hasting  and  Creation   of  the  Common   Council  

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1215:  Magna  Carta  

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1259:Provisions  of   Westminster  

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1628:Petition  of   Rights  

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1679:Habeas  Corpus   Act  

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1689:Bill  of  Rights  

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1832-­‐1928:Reforms  

2)   The   Magna   Carta:   In   1215,   King   John   Lackland   resigned   to   sign   the   Magna   Carta,  this  iconic  text  that  became  a  sort  of  Constitution,  limiting  royal  power,   regulating   the   relations   of   the   various   powers,  stating   the   fact   that   the   king   is   not   above   the   law,   cannot   transgress   it   or   raise   abusive   taxes.   Genuine   cornerstone  of  freedoms  and  democracy  English,  the  cancellation  by  the  pope   led  to  a  civil  war  and  the  death  of  King  John  in  1216.   3)  The  Oxford  and  Westminster  Provisions:  It  is  in  1258  that  the  Earl  of  Leicester   forced   Henry   III   to   sign   the   Provisions   of   Oxford   which   marked   the   end   of   absolute   monarchy.   A   committee   was   created,   which   initiated   the   English   Parliamentary   system,   by   launching   a   constitutional   reform   entitled   the   Provisions   of   Westminster   (1259)   .That   reforms   had   to   be   reaffirmed   in   the   1267  statute  of  Marlborough  since  the  annulations  of  the  former  Provisions  by   the  Pope  led  to  a  Baron’s  war  from  1263  to  1267.   4)   The   Petition   of   Rights:   In   1628   rights   and   liberties   of   common   people   were   established.   For   instance   Charles   I,   the   king   could   not   anymore   levy   taxes   without   the   Parliament   agreement,   his   contempt   for   the   petition   led   to   the   1642-­‐1649  civil  war.   5)Habeas   Corpus:   this   law   is   in   connection   with   abusive   imprisonment   and   refers   directly   to   the   Magna   Carta,   stating   the   fact   that   no   one   can   be   jailed   ,outlawed  and  deprived  of  his  rights  without  reason.  

6)   The   Bill   of   Rights:   In   1689   thirteen   point   were   enounced   in   order   to   strengthen   the   power   of   the   Parliament   over   the   crown   which   is   the   only     organism   which   can   levy   a   law,   taxes,   raise   an   army   .Furthermore,   the   Parliament   is   now   elected   freely,   with   an   entire   freedom   of   speech,   his   debates   could   not   anymore   be   cancelled  or  impeached.  

Acts  

7)  The  reform  Bills:  The  1832  first  reform  Bill  (see  below)  allowed  any  male  citizen  over  21  who  paid  a  rent  to   vote;  but  it  was  not  until  the  third  reform  of  1884  that  almost  all  men  over  21  can  vote  with  the  creations  of   universal   ballot.   It   was   only   in   1918   that   the   First   women   were   enfranchised   the   right   to   vote   and   in   1928   they   acquired  the  same  status  than  men  about  vote.  The  1969  Representation  Act  reduced  the  age  of  voting  to  18,   still  excluding  particular  groups.