Our founding documents, explained

Plain-English history · not legal advice · sources linked

A charter first agreed between King John and his barons in 1215, later reissued and confirmed as statute in 1297.

1. 1215 · Sealed at Runnymede

   King John agrees the charter with rebel barons. It is annulled by the Pope within months and civil war follows.

   Source: UK Parliament

2. 1216–1225 · Reissued under Henry III

   Revised versions are issued in 1216, 1217 and 1225. The 1225 text becomes the basis of later confirmations.

   Source: UK Parliament

3. 1297 · Confirmed as statute by Edward I

   Entered on the statute roll. This 1297 version is the one published today as law on legislation.gov.uk.

   Source: legislation.gov.uk

4. 1800s–1969 · Most clauses repealed by Parliament

   Clauses are repealed in stages by later Acts as they become obsolete, the last major round being the Statute Law (Repeals) Act 1969. Each repeal was made by Act of Parliament.

   Source: legislation.gov.uk

5. Today · Three clauses still in force

   Clauses 1, 9 and 29 remain on the statute book.

   Source: legislation.gov.uk

In force today: Three clauses remain in force in England and Wales: clause 1 (freedom of the English Church), clause 9 (the liberties of the City of London and other towns) and clause 29 (no free man to be imprisoned or punished except by lawful judgment or the law of the land).

Plain-English history · not legal advice · sources linked

The English Act that set limits on the Crown after James II left the throne, and settled it on William III and Mary II.

1. 1689 (Feb) · Declaration of Right

   The Convention Parliament presents a Declaration of Right to William and Mary as they accept the Crown.

   Source: UK Parliament

2. 1689 (Dec) · Enacted as the Bill of Rights

   Lists rights including no taxation or standing army in peacetime without Parliament's consent, free elections, and freedom of speech in Parliament (Article 9).

   Source: legislation.gov.uk

3. 2010 · R v Chaytor (Supreme Court)

   The court rules that Article 9 does not protect MPs' expenses claims from prosecution, as submitting claims is not a 'proceeding in Parliament'.

   Source: UK Supreme Court

4. 2019 · Miller/Cherry: prorogation case

   The Supreme Court holds that prorogation was not a 'proceeding in Parliament' under Article 9, and rules: "the Prime Minister's advice to Her Majesty was unlawful".

   Source: UK Supreme Court

In force today: Still in force. Article 9 (freedom of speech and debates in Parliament) remains central to parliamentary privilege.

Plain-English history · not legal advice · sources linked

The Scottish Act by which the Convention of Estates declared that James VII had forfeited the Scottish throne and offered it to William and Mary.

1. 1689 (Apr) · Adopted by the Scottish Convention

   Declares James VII forfeited the Crown and sets out grievances, including that the Crown may not override the law.

   Source: legislation.gov.uk

2. 1707 · Union with England

   The Scottish Parliament's Union with England Act joins the two kingdoms; the Claim of Right remains part of Scots law.

   Source: legislation.gov.uk

3. 2019 · Cherry case joined with Miller

   The Scottish prorogation challenge (Cherry) is heard with Miller in the Supreme Court, which rules the advice to prorogue "was unlawful".

   Source: UK Supreme Court

In force today: Still in force in Scotland.

Plain-English history · not legal advice · sources linked

The Act that settled the succession on Sophia of Hanover and her Protestant heirs, and protected judges from removal at the Crown's pleasure.

1. 1701 · Succession settled

   Fixes the line of succession on Sophia of Hanover and her Protestant heirs, and provides that judges serve 'during good behaviour', removable only on an address of both Houses.

   Source: legislation.gov.uk

2. 1714 · George I succeeds

   Sophia's son George becomes King under the Act on the death of Queen Anne.

   Source: The Royal Family

3. 2005 · Judicial independence put in statute

   The Constitutional Reform Act 2005 places a legal duty on ministers to uphold the independence of the judiciary.

   Source: legislation.gov.uk

4. 2013 (in force 2015) · Succession to the Crown Act

   Ends male preference for those born after 28 October 2011 and removes disqualification for marrying a Roman Catholic. Made by Act of Parliament with the agreement of the other Commonwealth realms.

   Source: legislation.gov.uk

In force today: Still in force, as amended. The Protestant succession rules remain; the bar on marrying a Roman Catholic was removed in 2015.