Bill of Rights (Great Britain)

Bill of Rights (Great Britain), bill regarded as a basic component of Britain's unwritten constitution, the product of the 17th-century conflict of power between Stuart monarchs, their subjects, and Parliament.

The bill incorporated the Declaration of Rights, the statement of terms on which the Crown of England was offered to the Prince and Princess of Orange. Their acceptance of it permitted them to become William III and Mary II; with their royal assent in December 1689 it became an Act of Parliament.

The bill stated that James II had tried to destroy the Protestant religion, laws, and liberties of the kingdom. It confirmed limitations on sovereigns; they could not exercise suspending or dispensing powers, levy money, or keep a standing army in time of peace without Parliament's consent, or use their prerogative to set up new law courts.

Liberties of subjects were acknowledged, with emphasis on those of Parliament. All Englishmen had the right to petition the king, to be free from excessive bail, and to be tried by a jury of freeholders if accused of treason. Parliament should have free elections, and be summoned frequently, and members should be given complete freedom of speech.

The monarch retained the prerogative of making war and peace, powers of patronage, such as choosing his or her own ministers, summoning, proroguing (discontinuing), and dissolving Parliament, and minting coinage.

Finally, succession to the throne was settled on the heirs of James's daughter Mary, then those of her sister Anne, then those of William, stipulating that the position was prohibited to any Roman Catholic or anyone married to a Roman Catholic. This last condition stands to this day. The bill established the supremacy of an Act of Parliament; monarchs had to rule through Parliament, but were given the means to do so.

The constitutional nature of the bill helped justify the term “Glorious” given to the events of 1688-1689, following the autocratic rule of the Stuarts. Combined with the Toleration Act (1689), the Triennial Act (1694), and the Act of Settlement (1701), it provided the foundations on which government rested following the Glorious Revolution.