The Petition of Right

The Petition of Right, enacted in 1628, was a formal document presented to King Charles I by Parliament, asserting that the king could not raise taxes or imprison people without Parliament's consent. It emphasized that the king must follow laws and respect citizens' rights, limiting royal authority. This petition was a significant step toward establishing parliamentary sovereignty and limiting absolute monarchy, helping to ensure government actions are lawful and protect individual freedoms within England's constitutional framework.