Magna Carta Influence On The Constitution Evolution Viewed

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.

The document has been strongly conceptualized with human rights, a modern day international necessity. Nowadays as we view modern law there are a lot of similarities in its likening to the charter. Emerging grievances that that were fuel for the creation of these documents had become more of a worldwide concern.

Looking at it from many respects, this charter overcomes the distinct confinement to politics or law. It is more representative of the commitment of the monarchs, legislators as well as the judiciary to the legal process. Its implications were strongly tied to both the Australian and British constitutions. However it would be prudent to note that it resonates well with modern law still.

The document served to erect a foundation for transformation of governments using the parliamentary module. It also resulted subsequently into the United States and Britain going for human rights declarations. Just by its mere aim of cupping the aristocratic powers, the emphasis on the rule of law was strengthened tremendously.

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.

At the United Nations they eventual adoption of a Universal Declaration focused on uniting common traditions and values of various nations. We however see its implications of the Magna Carta chapter 29 by the fact that no one should be subjected to detention, arbitrary arrest or exile altogether. On the spirit of the document, its resonance via modern day human rights declarations is more than an enough indicator that it does not require any form of scorn. The strong relationship between the contemporary human rights protections have created a whole new dimension.

There was no better way in history that the rule of law or constitutionalism process has been accorded with much significance as during the manifestation of Magna Carta. Different scholars have always given their various assessments on the same, with many claiming it was due to a societal structural shift. In the end the powerful centralized administrations eventually would have to accept that the power bestowed to government should always be exercised in line with custom, principle and law.

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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