Reading Quiz: Unit 1 - Lesson 4

Magna Carta

Also known as the Great Charter, King John agreed to this document in 1215 at the demand of his barons. The Magna Carta granted certain civil rights and liberties to English noble's and to all "freeman," such as the right to a jury of one's peers and the guarantee against loss of life, liberty, and property except in accordance with law.

The Magna Carta included the important constitutional principle that established...

Government based on rule of law.

Stare decisis

Latin: "Let the precedent (decision) stand." The doctrine that a court should follow the previous decisions of the other courts on cases in which the facts are substantially the same.

Writ of habeas corpus

Latin: "You shall/should have the body." A court order directing that a prisoner be brought to court before a judge to determine whether that prisoner's detention is lawful.

Precedent

Previous court decisions upon which legal issues are decided.

Civic virtue is best defined as...

Putting the common good above the individual interests.

How did the Magna Carta contribute to the development of constitutional government?

The Magna Carta limited the power of the king, who agreed that his will could be bounded by law and his became a landmark in the history of constitutional government.

Common Law

The body of unwritten law developed in England from judicial decisions on custom and earlier judicial decisions.constitutes the basis of The English legal system and become part of American law, except Louisiana, which inherited its civil law system from France.

Redress of grievances

The correction of complaints.

Rule of Law

The principle that both those who govern and those who are governed must obey the law and are subject to the same laws.

One constitutional scholar called the writ of habeas corpus the "great guarantee of human freedom ever devised by man." Why is this right so fundamental?

This right is fundamental because if you are in custody to a court of law and government cannot justify keeping the indiv. in custody, the indiv. must be set free.