Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
The Magna Carta was a document signed in 1215 that limited the power of the English monarchy and established certain rights for the nobles and citizens. It laid the foundation for constitutional law and influenced future democratic systems.
Related terms
Constitutionalism: A political ideology that advocates for government powers to be defined by a constitution, limiting arbitrary rule.