Bill of Rights (England)

The Bill of Rights was an historic statute that emerged from the Glorious Revolution of 1688-89, which culminated in the exile of King James II and the accession to the throne of William of Orange and Mary. Its intentions were: to depose James II for misgovernment; to determine the succession to the Throne; to curb future arbitrary behaviour of the monarch; and to guarantee parliament’s powers vis a vis the Crown, thereby establishing a constitutional monarchy. Its principle contents were:

• a declaration by the Commons and the Lords commencing with a list of the misdeeds of James II;
• the Thirteen Articles defining the limitations of the Crown and confirming the rights of Parliament and the individual;
• a confirmation of the accession of William and Mary to the Throne and a definition of the succession.