PDF generated: 28 Mar 2017, 17:42 constituteproject.org United Kingdom's Constitution of 1215 with Amendments through 2013 Texts collected from legislation. This complete constitution has been generated from excerpts of texts from the repository of the Comparative Constitutions Project, and distributed on constituteproject.org PDF generated: 28 Mar 2017, 17:42 Table of contents Magna Carta 1297. Confirmation of Liberties. Liberties of London, &c; .; contrary to Law.
Administration of Justice. 43 Closing Text: General Saving. Observance of these Liberties. Subsidy, in respect of this Charter and Charter of the Forest.
44 The Petition of Right 1628. Reciting that by (25) 34 Ed. 1, by Authority of Parliament holden 25 Ed. and by other Laws of this Realm, the Kings Subjects should not be taxed but by Consent in Parliament.
and that Commissions have of late issued on which Proceedings have been had contrary to Law. and that Soldiers have been dispersed in divers Counties, and Inhabitants compelled to receive them. and that Commissions have issued under the Great Seal for Proceedings according to Martial Law. 47 Habeas Corpus Act 1679 .; within Three Days after Service of Habeas Corpus, with the Exception of Treason and Felony, as and under the Regulations herein mentioned, to bring up the Body before the Court to which the Writ is returnable; and certify the true Causes of Imprisonment.
Exceptions in respect of Distance. How Writs to be marked. Persons committed, except for Treason and Felony, &c.; may appeal to the Lord Chancellor, &c. Habeas Corpus may be awarded; and upon Service thereof the Officer to bring up the Prisoners as before mentioned; and thereupon within Two Days Lord Chancellor, &c.; may discharge upon Recognizance; and certify the Writ with the Return and Recognizance.
Proviso for Process not bailable. Habeas Corpus not granted in Vacation to Prisoners who have neglected to pray the same .; to make the said Returnes, &c.; or upon Demand to deliver a Copy of Warrant of Commitment; First Offence, Penalty £100. Second Offence, £200 and Incapacity. Judgment at Suit of Party sufficient Conviction.
Proviso as to Imprisonment of Party after having been set at large upon Habeas Corpus. Unduly recommitting such discharged Persons or assisting therein; Penalty to the Party £500. Proviso respecting Persons charged in Debt, &c;. Persons committed for criminal Matter not to be removed but by Habeas Corpus or other legal Writ.
Unduly making out, &c.; Warrant for Removal; Penalty. Proviso for Application for and granting Habeas Corpus in Vacation-time.; unduly denying Writ; Penalty to Party £500. Habeas Corpus may be directed into Counties Palatine, &c;. 52 United Kingdom 1215 (rev.org PDF generated: 28 Mar 2017, 17:42 XI.
No subject to be sent Prisoner into Scotland, &c.; or any Parts beyond the Seas. Persons so imprisoned may maintain Action against the Person committing or otherwise acting in respect thereof, as herein mentioned; Treble Costs and Damages; and the Person so committing or acting disabled from Office, and incur Premunire 16 R. and be incapable of Pardon. Proviso for sending Persons to be tried in Places where any Capital Offence committed.
Limitation of Prosecution for Offences against this Act. 53 Bill of Rights 1689. 53 Heading 1: The Heads of Declaration of Lords and Commons, recited. 54 Heading 2: Dispensing and Suspending Power.
54 Heading 3: Committing Prelates. 54 Heading 4: Ecclesiastical Commission. 54 Heading 5: Levying Money. 54 Heading 6: Standing Army.
54 Heading 7: Disarming Protestants, &c;. 54 Heading 8: Violating Elections. 54 Heading 9: Illegal Prosecutions. 55 Heading 11: Excessive Bail.
55 Heading 14: Grants of Fines, &c. 55 Heading 15: Recital that the late King James II. had abdicated the Government, and that the Throne was vacant, and that the Prince of Orange had written Letters to the Lords and Commons for the choosing Representatives in Parliament. 55 Heading 16: The Subject’s Rights.
56 Heading 17: Dispensing Power. 56 Heading 18: Late dispensing Power. 56 Heading 19: Ecclesiastical Courts illegal. 56 Heading 20: Levying Money.
56 Heading 21: Right to petition. 56 Heading 22: Standing Army. 57 Heading 23: Subjects’ Arms. 57 Heading 24: Freedom of Election.
57 United Kingdom 1215 (rev.org PDF generated: 28 Mar 2017, 17:42 Heading 25: Freedom of Speech. 57 Heading 26: Excessive Bail. 57 Heading 28: Grants of Forfeitures. 57 Heading 29: Frequent Parliaments.
57 Heading 30: The said Rights claimed. Tender of the Crown. Regal Power exercised. Limitation of the Crown.
57 Heading 31: New Oaths of Allegiance, &c;. 58 Heading 34: Acceptance of the Crown. The Two Houses to sit. Subjects’ Liberties to be allowed, and Ministers hereafter to serve according to the same.
William and Mary declared King and Queen. Limitation of the Crown. Papists debarred the Crown.; shall make the Declaration of 30 Car. If under 12 Years old, to be done after Attainment thereof.
King’s and Queen’s Assent. Non obstantes made void. 61 Act of Settlement 1701. Recital of Stat.
and that the late Queen and Duke of Gloucester are dead; and that His Majesty had recommended from the Throne a further Provision for the Succession of the Crown in the Protestant Line. The Princess Sophia, Electress and Duchess Dowager of Hanover, Daughter of the late Queen of Bohemia, Daughter of King James the First, to inherit after the King and the Princess Anne, in Default of Issue of the said Princess and His Majesty, respectively and the Heirs of her Body, being Protestants. The Persons inheritable by this Act, holding Communion with the Church of Rome, incapacitated as by the former Act; to take the Oath at their Coronation, according to Stat. Further Provisions for securing the Religion, Laws, and Liberties of these Realms.
The Laws and Statutes of the Realm confirmed. 64 Union with Scotland Act 1706. 64 Preamble: Recital of Articles of Union, dated 22d July, 5 Ann.; and of an Act of Parliament passed in Scotland, 16th January, 5 Ann. 65 Article I: The Kingdoms United; Ensigns Armorial.
65 Article II: Succession to the Monarchy. 66 Article III: Parliament. 66 Article IIII: Trade and Navigation and other Rights. 66 Article VI: Regulations of Trade, Duties, &c;.
66 Article VII: Excise. 66 Article XVI: Coin. 67 Article XVIII: Laws concerning public rights. 67 Article XIX: Court of Session.
Writers to the Signet admitted Lords of Session. Court of Justiciary. Causes in Scotland not cognizable in Courts in Westminster Hall. 68 Article XX: Heritable Offices, &c;.
68 United Kingdom 1215 (rev.org PDF generated: 28 Mar 2017, 17:42 Article XXI: Royal Burghs. 68 Article XXIII: Privileges of the Sixteen Peers of Scotland. 69 Article XXIV: Heraldry; Great Seal; Seal kept in Scotland; Privy Seal, &c.; in Scotland; Regalia. Laws inconsistent with the Articles, void.
Acts of Scotland herein mentioned, confirmed; Universities and colleges of Saint Andrew, Glasgow, Aberdeen and Edinburgh, to continue; Subjects not liable to Oath, Test, or Subscription, inconsistant with the Presbyterian Church Government; Successor to swear to maintain the said Settlement of Religion; This Act to be held a fundamental Condition of Union, and to be inserted in any Act of Parliament for concluding the said Union; This Ratification of the said Articles not binding until they are ratified by Parliament of England, &c.; Laws contrary to Articles void. The said Articles and Act of Parliament of Scotland confirmed. 8 ante, and the said Act of Parliament of Scotland to be observed as fundamental Conditions of the said Union; and the said Articles and Acts of Parliament to continue the Union. Recital of Act of Parliament of Scotland for settling Election of the Sixteen Peers and Forty-five Members for Scotland.
The said Act declared valid as if it had been Part of the said Articles of Union. 74 Union with Ireland Act 1800. 74 Part 1: The Parliaments of England and Ireland have agreed upon the articles following. 75 Article First: That Great Britain and Ireland shall upon Jan.
1, 1801, be united into one kingdom; and that the titles appertaining to the crown, &c.; shall be such as his Majesty shall be pleased to appoint. 75 Article Second: That the succession to the crown shall continue limited and settled as at present. 75 Article Third: That the United Kingdom be represented in one Parliament. That such Act as shall be passed in Ireland to regulate the mode of summoning and returning the lords and commoners to serve in the united Parliament of the United Kingdom, shall be considered as part of the treaty of union.
That any peer of Ireland may be elected to serve in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, unless previously elected to sit in the House of Lords, but shall not be entitled to the privilege of peerage, etc. His Majesty may create peers, and make promotions in the peerage of Ireland after the union, under certain regulations. Peerages in abeyance to be deemed existing peerages, and no peerage to be deemed extinct but on default of claim for a year after the death of the late possessor. If a claim be after that period made and allowed, and a new creation shall have taken place in the interval, no new right of creation shall accrue to his Majesty on the next extinction of a peerage.
Questions touching the election of members to sit in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom on the part of Ireland shall be decided as questions touching such elections in Great Britain. When his Majesty shall declare his pleasure for holding a Parliament of the United Kingdom, a proclamation shall issue to cause the lords and commons, who are to serve on the part of Ireland to be returned as shall be provided by any Act of the present session in Ireland 77 United Kingdom 1215 (rev.org PDF generated: 28 Mar 2017, 17:42 7. The lords of Parliament on the part of Ireland shall have the same privileges as the lords on the part of Great Britain, and all lords spiritual of Ireland shall have rank next after the lords spiritual of the same rank of Great Britain, and shall enjoy the same privileges, (except those depending upon sitting in the House of Lords), and the temporal peers of Ireland shall have rank next after the peers of the like rank in Great Britain at the time of the union; and all peerages of Ireland and of the United Kingdom created after the union shall have rank according to creation; and all peerages of Great Britain and of Ireland shall, in all other respects, be considered as peerages of the United Kingdom, and the peers of Ireland shall enjoy the same privileges, except those depending upon sitting in the House of Lords. 78 Article Fifth: The churches of England and Ireland to be united into one Protestant Episcopal Church, and the doctrine of the Church of Scotland to remain as now established.
The subjects of Great Britain and Ireland shall be on the same footing in respect of trade and navigation, and in all treaties with foreign powers the subjects of Ireland shall have the same privileges as British subject. From January 1, 1801, all prohibitions and bounties on the export of articles the produce or manufacture of either country to the other shall cease. All articles the produce or manufacture of either country, not herein-after enumerated as subject to specific duties, shall be imported into each country from the other, duty free, other than the countervailing duties in the Schedule No.
