The Bill of Rights 1689 is a landmark constitutional document in English history that established certain rights and liberties of individuals, limited the powers of the monarch, and set out the requirements for the succession to the throne. It was passed by the Parliament of England in December 1689 and was signed into law by King William III and Queen Mary II.
The Bill of Rights affirmed the rights of individuals to petition the monarch, bear arms, and have a fair and speedy trial by jury. It also established the principle of parliamentary sovereignty and the right to freedom of speech and debate in Parliament. In addition, the Bill of Rights prohibited the monarch from suspending laws passed by Parliament, levying taxes without parliamentary consent, or maintaining a standing army without parliamentary approval.
The Bill of Rights was a response to the Glorious Revolution of 1688, which saw King James II deposed and replaced by William and Mary. It helped to establish the principle of limited government and the protection of individual rights, and has been an influential document in the development of constitutional law in many countries around the world.
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