English Bill of Rights
(Extracts)
Chapter 23


  1. That the pretended power of suspending of laws, or for the execution of laws, by regal authority, without consent of Parliament is illegal.
  2. That the pretended power of dispensing with laws, or the execution of laws, by regal authority, as it hath been assumed and exercised of late, is illegal.
  3. That the commission for erecting the late Court of Commissioners for Ecclesiastical Causes, and all other commissions and courts of like nature, are illegal and pernicious.
  4. That levying money for or to the use of the Crown, by pretence of prerogative, without grant of Parliament, for longer time, or in other manner than the same is or shall be granted, is illegal.
  5. That it is the right of the subjects to petition the King, and all commitments and prosecutions for such petitioning are illegal.
  6. That the raising or keeping a standing army within the kingdom in time of peace, unless it be with consent of Parliament, is against law.
  7. That the subjects which are Protestants may have arms for their defence, suitable to their conditions, and as allowed by law
  8. That election of Members of Parliament ought to be free.
  9. That the freedom of speech, and debates or proceedings in Parliament, ought not to be impeached or questioned in any court or place out of Parliament.
  10. That excessive bail ought not to be required, nor excessive fines imposed; nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted
  11. That jurors ought to be duly impanelled and returned, and jurors which pass upon men in trials for high treason ought to be freeholders.
  12. That all grants and promises of fines and forfeitures of particular persons before conviction, are illegal and void.
  13. And that for redress of all grievances, and for the amending, strengthening, and preserving of the laws, Parliaments ought to be held frequently. . . .

    From John Fairburn, ed., Magna Charta, the Bill of Rights: with the Petition of Right . . .

    ResourceResearchReference


    W.W. Norton
    RESOURCE: World Civilizations
    http://www.wwnorton.com/college/history/ralph/workbook/ralprs23a.htm
    Page created by Thomas Pearcy, Ph.D and Mary Dickson.
    Direct questions or comments to Webmaster.
    Last revised February 4, 1997
    Copyright (c) 1997. W. W. Norton Publishing. All Rights Reserved