Petition of Right

The Petition of Right, established in 1628, is a significant English constitutional document that outlined specific liberties and rights of the subjects, limiting the powers of the monarch. It asserted that the king could not impose taxes without Parliament’s consent, imprison people without cause, or use martial law in peacetime. This petition was a response to King Charles I's abuses of power and aimed to protect individual freedoms against arbitrary governance. It is considered a foundational step towards modern democracy and the rule of law, emphasizing that even the king is subject to the law.