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How did the English Bill of Rights of 1689 limit government power?

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The English Bill of Rights of 1689 fundamentally limited government power by establishing that the monarchy was conditional upon the will of Parliament, effectively ending the era of arbitrary rule by the Stuart kings.1

The act curtailed royal authority by declaring several practices illegal, including:

  • Suspension of Laws: The monarch could no longer suspend laws or dispense with them without parliamentary consent.1
  • Financial Control: Levying taxes without specific authorization from Parliament was prohibited.1
  • Military Oversight: Maintaining a standing army during peacetime without parliamentary approval was forbidden.1
  • Parliamentary Independence: The act protected free elections and ensured members of Parliament possessed complete freedom of speech, preventing royal interference in legislative proceedings.1
  • Judicial Integrity: It proscribed royal interference in the course of justice.1

By codifying these restrictions, the Bill of Rights ensured that the government operated under the rule of law rather than the unchecked prerogative of the sovereign.1