The most
important idea from the Magna Carta that influences governments today is the idea that the
executive (the king back then, presidents and prime ministers today) does not have unlimited
power. Magna Carta made the king share power with his barons -- today executives must generally
share power with legislatures.
Another important idea is the right of habeas
corpus, which means that a person may not be held in prison unless there is some legal reason
for holding them.
Finally, there is also the idea of due process. This is
the idea that a person can not be punished (have life, property, or liberty taken away from them
by the government) unless they have been legally convicted of a crime.
Together, all of these mean that the we can see the influence of Magna Carta in
limitations on the powers of modern governments.
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