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Period: Jan 1, 1000 to
Historcial legal documents
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Jan 1, 1164
Constitutions of Clarendon
constitution The Constitutions' primary goal was to deal with the controversial issue of "criminous clerks," or clergy who had been accused of committing a serious secular crime but were tried in ecclesiastical courts by "benefit of Clergy". Unlike royal courts, these ecclesiastical courts were strictly limited in the punishments to which a convicted felon could be subjected; in particular the spilling of blood was prohibited. An ecclesiastical case of murder often ended with the defendant being defrocked (d -
Jun 15, 1215
Magna Carta
Magna CartaThe 1215 charter required King John to proclaim certain liberties and accept that his will was not arbitrary—for example by explicitly accepting that no "freeman" (in the sense of non-serf) could be punished except through the law of the land, a right that still exists. The name Runnymede may be derived from the Anglo-Saxon 'runieg' (regular meeting) and 'mede' (mead or meadow), describing a place in the meadows used to hold regular meetings. The Witan, Witenagemot or Council of the Anglo-Saxon -
United States Mayflower Compact
Mayflower compact The Mayflower Compact was the first governing document of Plymouth Colony. It was written by the Separatists, sometimes referred to as the "Saints", fleeing from religious persecution by King James of England. They traveled aboard the Mayflower in 1620 along with adventurers, tradesmen, and servants, most of whom were referred to, by the Separatists as "Strangers". The Mayflower Compact was signed aboard ship on N -
United States Constitution
Constitution The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America.[1] The Constitution originally consisted of seven Articles. The first three Articles embody the doctrine of the separation of powers, whereby the federal government is divided into three branches: the legislature, consisting of the bicameral Congress; the executive, consisting of the President; and the judiciary, consistin -
United States Bill Of Rights
The Bill of Rights enumerates freedoms not explicitly indicated in the main body of the Constitution, such as freedom of religion, freedom of speech, a free press, and free assembly; the right to keep and bear arms; freedom from unreasonable search and seizure, security in personal effects, and freedom from warrants issued without probable cause; indictment by a grand jury for any capital or "infamous crime"; guarantee of a speedy, public trial with an impartial jury; and prohibition of double j -
Declaration of Arbroath
declaration of abroath The Declaration was part of a broader diplomatic campaign which sought to assert Scotland's position as an independent kingdom,[2] rather than being a feudal land controlled by England's Norman kings, as well as lift the excommunication of Robert the Bruce.[3] The Pope had recognised Edward I of England's claim to overlordship of Scotland in 1305 and Bruce was excommunicated by the Pope for murdering John
