UK Parliamentary Archives

• Held At: Parliamentary Archives: GB-061
• Catalogue Reference: HL/PO/PU/1/1688/1Wand;Ms2n2
• Former Archival Reference: Display Document E.82
• Ref No: HL/PO/PU/1/1688/1Wand;Ms2n2
• Date: Dec 1689
• Level: File
• Extent: 1 Act of Parliament
• Category: Acts of Parliament/Laws/Legislation
• Description: An Act declaring the Rights and Liberties of the Subject, and settling the Succession of the Crown. ["The Bill of Rights 1689"]
  
  After the short-lived constitutional experiments that followed the Civil War, the supremacy of Parliament was finally enshrined in the Bill of Rights passed in December 1689. Drafted in reaction to the 'tyranny' of James II, following the latter's 'abdication' and the acceptance of the crown by William III and Mary II, it formed part of the events that became known as the Glorious Revolution. The Bill of Rights firmly established the principles of frequent parliaments, free elections, and freedom of speech within Parliament. It also prohibited 'standing' armies without parliamentary consent, and barred Catholics from the throne. The Bill formalised the Declaration of Rights presented to William and Mary in February 1689, when they were jointly offered the throne. Although the Bill of Rights attacked the abuse of prerogative power rather than prerogative power itself, it had the virtue of enshrining in statute what many regarded as ancient rights and liberties. However, some historians have argued that a more profound change in the relationship between sovereign and Parliament emerged as a result of the financial settlement that Parliament negotiated with William and Mary.
• Terms:
  • Constitutional history,
  • Monarchy,
  • Church and State,
  • Glorious Revolution,
  • Parliament,
  • Democracy,
  • Catholics,
• 
  View digital reproduction of: Public Act, 1 William and; Mary Session 2, c. 2

  A

• Related Material: The Bill of Rights was based on the Declaration of Rights which was presented to William and Mary in Feb 1689. The Engrossed (final) version of the Declaration of Rights is HL/PO/PU/1/1688/1Wand;Ms1n1. For the draft of the Declaration see HL/PO/JO/10/1/403D.
• Related Record:
  • HL/PO/JO/10/1/403D,
  • HL/PO/PU/1/1688/1Wand;Ms1n1,
  • MIC/1632,
• Access Status: Open
• Access Conditions: This record contains information of outstanding constitutional or historical importance and access to the original document is restricted. Requests to view will be dealt with by providing access to a copy.
• Reproduction Conditions: Copies should be made from the digital surrogate of this record.
• Copies Exist: A digital copy of this record is available. For information about how to view it, which may include online access, please follow the link below.
• URL:http://digitalarchive.parliament.uk/HL/PO/PU/1/1688/1Wand;Ms2n2

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