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Petition of Right

Definition

The Petition of Right, enacted in 1628, was a significant constitutional document that set out specific liberties of the subject that the king is prohibited from infringing. It challenged the idea of divine right and absolute monarchy.

Related terms

Magna Carta: This was an earlier English legal charter from 1215 that also limited royal power and protected certain rights of subjects.

Habeas Corpus Act: Passed in 1679, this act strengthened the principle that a person cannot be held without being charged with a specific crime.

Bill of Rights: An act passed in 1689 following the Glorious Revolution which further restricted royal authority and guaranteed certain civil liberties.

"Petition of Right" appears in:

Study guides (1)

AP European History - 3.2 The English Civil War and the Glorious Revolution

Practice Questions (3)

What is the Petition of Right passed under Charles I's parliament?
What role did "Petition of Right" (1628) play during the reign of Charles I?
What alternative scenario could have emerged had Charles I accepted the Petition of Right during his reign?

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