Sunday 26 October 2014

Detailed Magna Carta Influence On The Constitution

By Dominique Martin


The spirit of the Magna Carta has been kept alive for the hundreds of years after its inception. This has mostly been done by lawyers and legislators. The Magna Carta influence on the constitution as a document is an enduring significance.

This document has been re-issued multiple times and has been accompanied by several amendments. It is believed that this document has had to be confirmed a lot of times by parliament. Its application is embedded in the constitutions of several countries contrary to common perception that it is an England thing.

The international community had to resort to put down in writing the inherent individual rights that do ensure their protection. The Universal Declaration attests to justice, freedom not forgetting world peace. When we view the principles the legal process of constitutionalism is increasingly highlighted in modern democratic nations.

One of the significances of this document on the constitutionalism is largely in regard to freedom and power. Its setting largely emanates from a time in which the concentration of ultimate power was vested on a single rulers hands. Long ago the incessant conflicts of succession that preceded a king death was very unfortunate and distractive. This was before primogeniture. The precursor to its adoption in England was so as to prevent the future exploitation of the people as experienced under the Angevin Kings. With a heavily centralized administrative system on trade taxation most of these subjects demanded assurances that everything was ethically conducted not forgetting the preservation of their liberties.

Towards the end of the thirteenth century the idea of a higher form of governing law was provided for. The notion was that no matter what no alteration could be effected on it irrespective of whether it is by the legislature or the executive. This concept was eventually adopted by the forefathers in the American Revolution. When we observe the United States constitution it is embedded in a supremacy clause and accordingly enforced by the judiciary.

Similarly we can relate this to 1215 whereby citizens and feudal lords in England were fed up with the then king. On losing land to the French he subjected his subjects to high taxes and oppression via power abuse. These subjects drafted the Magna Carta and compelled the king to accept or face the consequences which amounted to civil war. Despite it being more tailored to protect noblemen, in time its umbrella included all commoners too.

Its legacy has been inherited in different countries for instance Australia. This occurs via application of common law. Nowadays it seems to auger well with the common doctrines of law dwelling on emphasis on particular legal process and the accessibility to attain justice. It has previously been referred to as the groundwork of all modern day constitutions.

All constitutions usually constrain executive power from being employed on pursuit of certain few aristocratic oligarchic orders. The governments are more representative of ordinary commoners welfare and rights. It is also widely argued that the Magna Carta became a major contributor to the written constitutionalism as opposed to the laws which were orally proclaimed.




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