What did the British Parliament believe was the purpose of the English Bill of Rights?
Parliament was listing the rights that people already had..
Parliament was asking the people to vote on which rights to grant.
The document would give British nobles rights to overthrow their king.
The document would explain what the Magna Carta was for.
The British Parliament believed that the purpose of the English Bill of Rights was to list the rights that people already had.
Which of the following statements best summarizes how Baron de Montesquieu felt about power?
People with power tend to abuse it, so power should be kept in check.
Governments get their power from God, so kings have a divine right to rule.
Power should remain in the hands of the upper classes since they are educated.
Power exists in order to do the most good for the greatest number of people.
The statement "People with power tend to abuse it, so power should be kept in check" best summarizes how Baron de Montesquieu felt about power.
What is the belief that a higher law, superior to any human-made law, exists?
constitutional law
natural law
common law
statutory law
The belief that a higher law, superior to any human-made law, exists is known as natural law.
The purpose of the English Bill of Rights, according to the British Parliament, was to list the rights that people already had.
The correct answer is: Parliament was listing the rights that people already had.
The English Bill of Rights, passed by the British Parliament in 1689, was a foundational constitutional document that aimed to establish and protect individual rights and limit the powers of the monarch. It was a response to the abuses of power by King James II and sought to secure the rights and liberties of the English people.
To understand the purpose of the English Bill of Rights, one must examine the historical context in which it was created. At the time, King James II had been attempting to expand his authority and establish absolute rule, going against the principles of constitutional monarchy. In response, Parliament sought to reaffirm the rights and liberties that had been previously established in English law.
The English Bill of Rights served as a statement of the rights and freedoms that individuals possessed, such as the right to petition the monarch, freedom of speech in Parliament, and the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment. It also outlined specific actions that were deemed illegal for the monarchy, such as raising taxes without Parliament's consent and maintaining a standing army during peacetime without parliamentary approval.
By listing these rights, Parliament aimed to formally recognize and protect rights that were already considered inherent or customary to the English people. It also intended to restrict the powers and actions of the monarchy, ensuring that future rulers would not be able to infringe upon these fundamental rights and liberties.
In summary, the British Parliament believed that the purpose of the English Bill of Rights was to list and secure the preexisting rights and liberties of the English people, particularly in response to the overreach of King James II.