Which medieval English document limited the king's power and protected certain rights?

Which medieval English document limited the king's power and protected certain rights?

• A. The Petition of Right
• B. The Bill of Rights
• C. The Charter of the Forest
• D. The Magna Carta

Answer: (D)

The main idea here is that a ruler’s power is limited by law and that certain rights are protected for subjects. The Magna Carta, sealed in 1215, did exactly that. It established that the king must govern according to the law, not by fiat, and it protected specific rights such as due process and protection from unlawful imprisonment. It also required that taxes be levied with the consent of the realm’s representatives, reinforcing that the king could not raise funds unilaterally. This document is the earliest and most famous assertion that a ruler’s authority is checked by legal limits, laying the groundwork for the rule of law in later constitutional developments. The Petition of Right, the Bill of Rights, and the Charter of the Forest address related issues but either come later or focus on narrower aspects (royal prerogatives, parliamentary sovereignty, or forest privileges).

The main idea here is that a ruler’s power is limited by law and that certain rights are protected for subjects. The Magna Carta, sealed in 1215, did exactly that. It established that the king must govern according to the law, not by fiat, and it protected specific rights such as due process and protection from unlawful imprisonment. It also required that taxes be levied with the consent of the realm’s representatives, reinforcing that the king could not raise funds unilaterally. This document is the earliest and most famous assertion that a ruler’s authority is checked by legal limits, laying the groundwork for the rule of law in later constitutional developments. The Petition of Right, the Bill of Rights, and the Charter of the Forest address related issues but either come later or focus on narrower aspects (royal prerogatives, parliamentary sovereignty, or forest privileges).