A charter signed in 1215 that limited the powers of the king and laid the foundation for modern democracy.

A charter signed in 1215 that limited the powers of the king and laid the foundation for modern democracy.

• A. Mayflower Compact
• B. English Bill of Rights
• C. Magna Carta
• D. Declaration of Independence

Answer: (C)

The main idea here is that a ruler’s power is limited by law and that certain rights and procedures must be respected by the government. The Magna Carta, signed in 1215, established that the king was not above the law and that even the sovereign’s actions had to follow legal rules. It introduced concepts like due process and protection from unlawful imprisonment, laying the groundwork for the rule of law that underpins modern democracies. Over time, these ideas influenced later constitutional developments and the belief that government power should be constrained by written limits and the rights of people, which is a cornerstone of democratic governance. In contrast, the other documents come from different times and contexts: the Mayflower Compact is a 1620 colonial self-government agreement, the English Bill of Rights is a later 1689 document further limiting royal power, and the Declaration of Independence is a 1776 statement of breaking from a colonial ruler, not the 1215 charter that first established limits on monarchical authority.

The main idea here is that a ruler’s power is limited by law and that certain rights and procedures must be respected by the government. The Magna Carta, signed in 1215, established that the king was not above the law and that even the sovereign’s actions had to follow legal rules. It introduced concepts like due process and protection from unlawful imprisonment, laying the groundwork for the rule of law that underpins modern democracies. Over time, these ideas influenced later constitutional developments and the belief that government power should be constrained by written limits and the rights of people, which is a cornerstone of democratic governance. In contrast, the other documents come from different times and contexts: the Mayflower Compact is a 1620 colonial self-government agreement, the English Bill of Rights is a later 1689 document further limiting royal power, and the Declaration of Independence is a 1776 statement of breaking from a colonial ruler, not the 1215 charter that first established limits on monarchical authority.