Browse a timeline of key events in constitutional and administrative law, from 1066 to 2020, as well as a table of British monarchs during this time frame.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Normandy King, William invaded England and seized the English Crown. William began unifying the disparate parts of England and surveyed the ownership of property and wealth in the Doomsday Book.<\/em> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n The early establishment of a legal system common to all England, staffed by the King\u2019s judges. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n During the reign of King John (1199 \u2013 1216) discontent with absolute royal power led to its formal limitation under an agreement between the Crown and aristocracy. Magna Carta <\/strong>established the right to jury trial and the power of monarchs was declared to be subject to law. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The King\u2019s advisors comprised the House of Lords. During the thirteenth century the early House of Commons came into being with the King consulting \u2018the common people\u2019 and the introduction of elected representatives in Parliament. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n A dispute with the Roman Catholic Church over Henry\u2019s demand for a divorce from his first wife culminated in the establishment of the Church of England<\/strong>. Under the Act of Supremacy 1534 <\/strong>Henry was proclaimed head of the English church. In 1536 Wales was formally united with England. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n On the death of Elizabeth I in 1603, James VI of Scotland<\/strong> succeeded to the English throne as James I<\/strong>. The King\u2019s use of royal power to rule by royal proclamation under the royal prerogative led to increasing conflict with Parliament. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n The power of monarchs to raise taxes without Parliament\u2019s consent was prohibited.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n King Charles made extensive use of the royal prerogative \u2013 at the expense of Parliament. The King suspended Parliament to achieve his objectives. Resistance to the abuse of the prerogative culminated in civil war between Parliament and the Crown. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n King Charles was tried and found guilty of treason and executed, ushering the first and only period the republican rule in England. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Oliver Cromwell <\/strong>had led the parliamentary forces to victory over the Crown during the civil war. Cromwell now assumed power as Lord Protector of England. The monarchy was abolished as were the House of Lords and the Church of England. Cromwell also drafted a written Commonwealth Constitution for England, Scotland and Ireland but this was never implemented. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n On Cromwell\u2019s death in 1660, and the people weary of repressive military rule, the monarchy was restored under King Charles II <\/strong>(1660 \u2013 1685). On his death King Charles II <\/strong>was to be succeeded by his brother James II. James<\/strong> (reigned 1685 \u2013 1688) adhered to the Roman Catholic faith and appointed Catholics to public positions. Concerned that James would produce a Catholic heir to the throne, parliamentarians entered negotiations with James\u2019s brother in law, William of Orange<\/strong> and his wife Mary<\/strong>, to assume the throne. On William\u2019s arrival in England James II<\/strong> fled the country. <\/strong> <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n William and Mary\u2019s accession to the English Crown was to be subject to the conditions set out in the Bill of Rights 1689. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Limiting royal power and establishing parliamentary sovereignty. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Clarifying succession to the Crown and guaranteeing judges security of tenure \u2018during good behaviour\u2019. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Uniting England and Scotland under a single Parliament \u2013 the Parliament of Great Britain and protecting the Scottish church and legal system. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Uniting Great Britain and Ireland. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Redistributing seats in the House of Commons to give representation to large industrial areas and giving middle-class men the right to vote, subject to property ownership requirements. Women and working-class men remained excluded. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Further expanded the right to vote by lowering the property qualification. Women remained excluded. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n The power of the House of Lords to reject Bills was curtailed. If a Bill was rejected twice over two years, the Commons could pass the Bill (subject to royal assent) without the Lords\u2019 consent. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Women over the age of 30 were given the right to vote; the property qualification for men was abolished. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n The House of Lords\u2019 power to delay Bill was reduced to one year over two parliamentary sessions. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n The Council of Europe<\/strong> was formed in order to protect human rights across Europe. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n The UK was a founder member of the Council of Europe and in 1953 became a signatory to the ECHR, committed to the protection of Convention rights. Actions against the UK Government could be brought by other Member States, but not by individual citizens. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Individuals were given the right to apply under the ECHR for the protection of Convention rights. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n The European Communities Act 1972 provided<\/strong> for the law of the European Community (now European Union) to enter into and be enforceable in domestic law. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Established national legislative bodies and devolved law-making power from the Westminster Parliament to the national assemblies. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Removed most hereditary peers from the House of Lords. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Incorporated rights under the European Convention on Human Rights into domestic law, enabling Convention rights to be protected by the domestic courts. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n Established the Supreme Court, replacing the judicial function of the House of Lords Appellate Committee and reformed the office of Lord Chancellor. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n The European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018; the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act 2020 and European Union (Future Relationship) Act 2020: gave effect to the referendum decision of 2016 to withdraw from the European Union. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n1154 \u2013 1189 King Henry II <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1215 Magna Carta <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1509 \u2013 1547 Henry VIII <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1603: England and Scotland are united under a common Crown <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1625 \u2013 1649 Charles I <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1628 The Petition of Right <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1642 \u2013 1648 Civil War <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1649 <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1649 \u2013 1660 Republican rule <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1660: Restoration of the monarchy <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1689 \u2013 1702 William and Mary<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1689 The Bill of Rights<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1700 The Act of Settlement <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
1706\/1707 The Treaty of Union <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1800 The Treaty of Union <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1832 The Representation of the People Act: the \u2018Great Reform Act\u2019 <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1867 and 1884 The Representation of the People Acts <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1911 The Parliament Act <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1918 The Representation the People Act <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1949 The Parliament Act <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1949 The Council of Europe <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1953: the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (ECHR) <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1965 <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1972 The UK became a Member State of the European Communities <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1998: The \u2018devolution\u2019 Acts: the Wales Act, Northern Ireland Act and Scotland Act and 2006 Government of Wales Act <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1998 The House of Lords Act <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1998 The Human Rights Act <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2005 The Constitutional Reform Act <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2016 The referendum on continued EU membership <\/h2>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
2018\/2020 Implementing the UK\u2019s withdrawal from the EU <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Table of Monarchs, 1066-present<\/strong><\/summary>\n
Monarch <\/strong> <\/td> Reign<\/strong> <\/td><\/tr> Harold II <\/strong> <\/td> 1066 <\/td><\/tr> William I (The Conqueror)<\/strong> <\/td> 1066-1087 <\/td><\/tr> William II (Rufus) <\/strong> <\/td> 1087-1100 <\/td><\/tr> Henry I <\/strong> <\/td> 1100-1135 <\/td><\/tr> Stephen <\/strong> <\/td> 1135-1154 <\/td><\/tr> Henry II <\/strong> <\/td> 1154-1189 <\/td><\/tr> Richard I (The Lionheart) <\/strong> <\/td> 1189-1199 <\/td><\/tr> John <\/strong> <\/td> 1199-1216 <\/td><\/tr> Henry III <\/strong> <\/td> 1216-1272 <\/td><\/tr> Edward I <\/strong> <\/td> 1272-1307 <\/td><\/tr> Edward II <\/strong> <\/td> 1307-deposed 1327 <\/td><\/tr> Edward III <\/strong> <\/td> 1327-1377 <\/td><\/tr> Richard II <\/strong> <\/td> 1377-deposed 1399 <\/td><\/tr> Henry IV <\/strong> <\/td> 1399-1413 <\/td><\/tr> Henry V <\/strong> <\/td> 1413-1422 <\/td><\/tr> Henry VI <\/strong> <\/td> 1422-deposed 1461 <\/td><\/tr> Edward IV <\/strong> <\/td> 1461-1483 <\/td><\/tr> Edward V <\/strong> <\/td> 1483-1483 <\/td><\/tr> Richard III <\/strong> <\/td> 1483-1485 <\/td><\/tr> Henry VII <\/strong> <\/td> 1485-1509 <\/td><\/tr> Henry VIII <\/strong> <\/td> 1509-1547 <\/td><\/tr> Edward VI <\/strong> <\/td> 1547-1553 <\/td><\/tr> Mary I <\/strong> <\/td> 1553-1558 <\/td><\/tr> Elizabeth I <\/strong> <\/td> 1558-1603 <\/td><\/tr> James I and VI of Scotland <\/strong> <\/td> 1603-1625 <\/td><\/tr> Charles I <\/strong> <\/td> 1625-1649 <\/td><\/tr> Oliver Cromwell, Lord Protector <\/strong> <\/td> 1653-1658 <\/td><\/tr> Richard Cromwell, Lord Protector <\/strong> <\/td> 1658-1659 <\/td><\/tr> Charles II <\/strong> <\/td> 1660-1685 <\/td><\/tr> James II and VII of Scotland <\/strong> <\/td> 1685-1688 <\/td><\/tr> William III and Mary II <\/strong> <\/td> 1689-1702, 1689-1694 <\/td><\/tr> Anne <\/strong> <\/td> 1702-1714 <\/td><\/tr> George I <\/strong> <\/td> 1714-1727 <\/td><\/tr> George II <\/strong> <\/td> 1727-1760 <\/td><\/tr> George III <\/strong> <\/td> 1760-1820 <\/td><\/tr> George IV <\/strong> <\/td> 1820-1830 <\/td><\/tr> William IV <\/strong> <\/td> 1830-1837 <\/td><\/tr> Victoria <\/strong> <\/td> 1837-1901 <\/td><\/tr> Edward VII <\/strong> <\/td> 1901-1910 <\/td><\/tr> George V <\/strong> <\/td> 1910-1936 <\/td><\/tr> Edward VIII <\/strong> <\/td> 1936-1936 <\/td><\/tr> George VI <\/strong> <\/td> 1936-1952 <\/td><\/tr> Elizabeth II <\/strong> <\/td> 1952-2022 <\/td><\/tr> Charles III\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<\/td> 2022- <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/details>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"template":"single-chapter","meta":{"_acf_changed":false},"class_list":["post-22","content","type-content","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t