U1A3
Magna Carta
1. Why was the signing of the Magna Carta legally significant?
The signing of the Magna Carta was very legally significant because it is known as
democracy’s birth certificate. It states the limits of power, stating women’s rights (no
widow should be forced to marry and give up her property), that nobody is above the
law (especially those employed within the government), rules to settle disputes barons
and the Crown established trial by a jury of one’s peers, and one which we struggle with
more than we know today, Habeas Corpus: Freedom from unlawful detention without
cause or evidence. And, it has set the foundation for the common-law systems for the
English speaking countries like the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the U.S.
Bill of Rights, and the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
2. Define the following words: autonomy, ratified, arbitrary, codify.
Autonomy: Independence/Freedom of one’s will (ex; self-governing)
Ratified: Signed or formal consent (ex; agreement, treaty) (ex; Carta de Foresta ended
the arbitrary in forest law which is mentioned in Magna Carta, was ratified)
Arbitrary: A rule made with random reason/choice/lack of concrete sustaining the
choice/rule made (ex; King John imposing new taxes, ignoring many rights of the baron)
Codify: To have/arrange laws/rules in a systematic code/branches of law (ex; barons
deciding to codify their privileges in a charter)
3. Re-read the four (4) key principles contained in the Globe and Mail article.
Explain the importance of each to the justice system.
The first is that nobody is above the law, meaning that civilians and especially those in
power (government jobs, law enforcement, judges etc) are not above the law. Those in
power tend to feel/act more powerful than us civilians, when in reality it is not fair/ or
accepted. This well describes the Rule of Law we have in place today. Second is
Habeas Corpus, meaning that you cannot detain one without evidence or cause.
Citizens struggle with being unlawfully detained more than we think, and this law is very
important in preventing people from being wrongfully convicted/detained. This issue
tends to happen when the evidence isn’t concrete enough/specific enough, for example,
a bite mark sample can be too vague, therefore causing law enforcement to wrongfully
convict/detain someone. Third, is the Trial by Jury, meaning to have juries to settle
trials. This is very important to the justice system by having other people have
Magna Carta
1. Why was the signing of the Magna Carta legally significant?
The signing of the Magna Carta was very legally significant because it is known as
democracy’s birth certificate. It states the limits of power, stating women’s rights (no
widow should be forced to marry and give up her property), that nobody is above the
law (especially those employed within the government), rules to settle disputes barons
and the Crown established trial by a jury of one’s peers, and one which we struggle with
more than we know today, Habeas Corpus: Freedom from unlawful detention without
cause or evidence. And, it has set the foundation for the common-law systems for the
English speaking countries like the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms, the U.S.
Bill of Rights, and the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
2. Define the following words: autonomy, ratified, arbitrary, codify.
Autonomy: Independence/Freedom of one’s will (ex; self-governing)
Ratified: Signed or formal consent (ex; agreement, treaty) (ex; Carta de Foresta ended
the arbitrary in forest law which is mentioned in Magna Carta, was ratified)
Arbitrary: A rule made with random reason/choice/lack of concrete sustaining the
choice/rule made (ex; King John imposing new taxes, ignoring many rights of the baron)
Codify: To have/arrange laws/rules in a systematic code/branches of law (ex; barons
deciding to codify their privileges in a charter)
3. Re-read the four (4) key principles contained in the Globe and Mail article.
Explain the importance of each to the justice system.
The first is that nobody is above the law, meaning that civilians and especially those in
power (government jobs, law enforcement, judges etc) are not above the law. Those in
power tend to feel/act more powerful than us civilians, when in reality it is not fair/ or
accepted. This well describes the Rule of Law we have in place today. Second is
Habeas Corpus, meaning that you cannot detain one without evidence or cause.
Citizens struggle with being unlawfully detained more than we think, and this law is very
important in preventing people from being wrongfully convicted/detained. This issue
tends to happen when the evidence isn’t concrete enough/specific enough, for example,
a bite mark sample can be too vague, therefore causing law enforcement to wrongfully
convict/detain someone. Third, is the Trial by Jury, meaning to have juries to settle
trials. This is very important to the justice system by having other people have
