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The symbolism of Magna Carta
The British nation puts its trust in people rather than in paper and has never codified its constitution. The Magna Carta's place in the laws of England and Wales is mainly symbolic.
And yet, the symbolism crosses the political spectrum. Nelson Mandela expressed his admiration for it during the Rivonia trial of 1964. Churchill was advised that a copy of the original charter might secure the support of the United States in WWII.
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Magna Carta's use is limited
Non-lawyers tend to invest in Magna Carta with more weight than it carries. Some seem to think that Magna Carta can be used as a restraint on the supremacy of Parliament, but it can not. The power of Parliament to legislate as it deems good dates from the Bill of...
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Magna Carta in the United States
Magna Carta is revered more in other lands than in the country of its birth. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 1948. In turn, that led directly to the European Convention on Human Rights in 1953.
The Magn...
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The modern legal interpretation of Magna Carta
Only three clauses of the statute remain law in England and Wales today.
- Clause 1 states that 'the Church of England shall be free.'
- Clause 9 promises that 'the City of London shall have all the old liberties and customs' it u...
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The Magna Carta is iconic
The Magna Carta has become a world-class brand representing human rights, democracy, and free speech.
But the original document does not mention any of these principles, not even in translation. Regardless of what the Magna Carta says, it is immediately re...
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A constitutional instrument
Magna Carta is a constitutional instrument that stands with the Petition of Right 1628, the Bill of Rights 1689, the Act of Settlement 1701 and the Act of Union 1707.
It is the most important document in the development of constitutional and legal freedom a...
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