Democracy - Civil Liberties

Magna Carta (Developement of Civil Rights)

1215 - Gave British public certain legal and political rights, e.g. right to a fair trail. Also limited power of monarchy.

Bill of Rights

1689 - Bill stating the monarchy rules with the consent of parliament → constitutional monarchy (signed by Willaim III)

Entick v Carrington

1765 - law stating government can only act again a person if a specific law permits it.

Somerset v Stewart

1772 - states slavery is not legal in the UK.

Human Rights Act

1998 - gives public clear statement of their rights and ability to enforce them in the court of law

Freedom of Information Act

2000 - gives public access to any information about themselves and that of public organisations

Equality Act

2010 - law making it illegal to discrimated because of a protected characterstic e.g. age, disability

Anti-Terrorism Crime and Security Act

2001 - gave government power to imprison foreign terrorist subjects indefinitely without a trial (eventually overturned)

Serious Organised Crime and Police Act

2005 - limited right to protest outside Parliament, and inciting religious hatred

Belmarsh Case

2004 - senior judges ruled imprisonment of terrorism subjects ‘discriminatory’

Deportation of Abu Qatada

2014 - prevented Abu Qatada being deported until Jordan agreed not to present evidence acquired from torture

LGBT Asylum

2010 - Supreme Court ruled same-sex relationships provided groups for claiming UK asylum if they were from a country where it was persecuted