The Establishment of Parliament

Oct 13, 2025 by thesweetdesigns.com 38 views

The creation of Parliament in the United Kingdom and its powers played a significant role in shaping the framework of the US government. The designers of the US government, including the Founding Fathers, drew inspiration from the British system of government, which had been in place for centuries. In this article, we will explore how the creation of Parliament and its powers influenced the development of the US government.

The Establishment of Parliament

Parliament was first established in the 13th century, with the Magna Carta of 1215 marking a significant milestone in the development of the British system of government. The Magna Carta established the principle of the rule of law, which held that the king was not above the law and that even he was subject to the law. This idea was revolutionary at the time and laid the foundation for the concept of constitutional monarchy.

The Powers of Parliament

Parliament was granted significant powers by the Magna Carta, including the power to make laws, to approve taxes, and to hold the monarch accountable for their actions. The House of Commons, which was established in the 14th century, was given the power to approve or reject laws proposed by the monarch. This system of government, where the legislative branch had significant powers, was a departure from the absolute monarchy that had existed in England prior to the Magna Carta.

The Influence of Parliament on the US Government

The designers of the US government, including George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison, were influenced by the British system of government and the powers of Parliament. They drew inspiration from the Magna Carta and the concept of the rule of law, which held that the government was accountable to the people.

The US Constitution, which was ratified in 1788, established a system of government that was similar to the British system. The Constitution created a legislative branch, which was given the power to make laws, to approve taxes, and to hold the executive branch accountable for its actions. The Constitution also established a system of checks and balances, which ensured that no one branch of government had too much power.

The Precedent of Parliament

The creation of Parliament and its powers provided a precedent for the designers of the US government. The idea of a representative government, where citizens elected representatives to make laws on their behalf, was a significant departure from the absolute monarchy that had existed in England prior to the Magna Carta.

The precedent of Parliament also established the idea of the rule of law, which held that the government was accountable to the people. This idea was revolutionary at the time and laid the foundation for the concept of constitutional monarchy.

The End of the Divine Right of Kings

The creation of Parliament and its powers also marked the end of the divine right of kings. The divine right of kings held that the monarch was appointed by God and was therefore above the law. This idea was challenged by the Magna Carta, which established the principle of the rule of law.

The end of the divine right of kings was a significant development in the history of government. It marked a shift away from absolute monarchy and towards a system of government where the monarch was accountable to the people.

A Representative Government

The creation of Parliament and its powers also provided an example of a representative government. The House of Commons, which was established in the 14th century, was given the power to approve or reject laws proposed by the monarch. This system of government, where citizens elected representatives to make laws on their behalf, was a significant departure from the absolute monarchy that had existed in England prior to the Magna Carta.

The example of a representative government provided by Parliament was an inspiration to the designers of the US government. They drew on this precedent when creating the US system of government, which established a legislative branch that was accountable to the people.

Conclusion

The creation of Parliament and its powers played a significant role in shaping the framework of the US government. The designers of the US government, including the Founding Fathers, drew inspiration from the British system of government, which had been in place for centuries. The precedent of Parliament established the idea of a representative government, where citizens elected representatives to make laws on their behalf. The end of the divine right of kings marked a significant development in the history of government, and the example of a representative government provided by Parliament was an inspiration to the designers of the US government.

References

The Magna Carta (1215)
The US Constitution (1788)
The British System of Government (13th century)
The House of Commons (14th century)
The Divine Right of Kings (medieval period)

Q: What was the Magna Carta and how did it influence the US government?

A: The Magna Carta was a document signed in 1215 by King John of England, which established the principle of the rule of law and limited the power of the monarch. The Magna Carta was a significant influence on the development of the US government, as it established the idea that the government was accountable to the people and that even the monarch was subject to the law.

Q: What was the significance of the House of Commons and how did it influence the US government?

A: The House of Commons was established in the 14th century and was given the power to approve or reject laws proposed by the monarch. This system of government, where citizens elected representatives to make laws on their behalf, was a significant departure from the absolute monarchy that had existed in England prior to the Magna Carta. The example of a representative government provided by the House of Commons was an inspiration to the designers of the US government.

Q: What was the divine right of kings and how did it influence the US government?

A: The divine right of kings held that the monarch was appointed by God and was therefore above the law. This idea was challenged by the Magna Carta, which established the principle of the rule of law. The end of the divine right of kings was a significant development in the history of government, as it marked a shift away from absolute monarchy and towards a system of government where the monarch was accountable to the people.

Q: How did the creation of Parliament influence the development of the US Constitution?

A: The creation of Parliament and its powers influenced the development of the US Constitution, which established a system of government that was similar to the British system. The Constitution created a legislative branch, which was given the power to make laws, to approve taxes, and to hold the executive branch accountable for its actions. The Constitution also established a system of checks and balances, which ensured that no one branch of government had too much power.

Q: What was the significance of the separation of powers in the US government and how did it influence the development of the US government?

A: The separation of powers in the US government was a significant development, as it ensured that no one branch of government had too much power. The Constitution established a system of checks and balances, which ensured that the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government were accountable to each other. This system of government was influenced by the British system of government, where the monarch, the House of Commons, and the House of Lords were separate branches of government.

Q: How did the creation of Parliament influence the development of the US system of government?

A: The creation of Parliament and its powers influenced the development of the US system of government, as it established the idea of a representative government, where citizens elected representatives to make laws on their behalf. The example of a representative government provided by Parliament was an inspiration to the designers of the US government, who established a system of government that was similar to the British system.

Q: What was the significance of the rule of law in the US government and how did it influence the development of the US government?

A: The rule of law was a significant development in the history of government, as it established the idea that the government was accountable to the people and that even the monarch was subject to the law. The rule of law was influenced by the Magna Carta, which established the principle of the rule of law. The rule of law was a significant influence on the development of the US government, as it established the idea that the government was accountable to the people.

Q: How did the creation of Parliament influence the development of the US system of checks and balances?

A: The creation of Parliament and its powers influenced the development of the US system of checks and balances, which ensured that no one branch of government had too much power. The Constitution established a system of checks and balances, which ensured that the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government were accountable to each other. This system of government was influenced by the British system of government, where the monarch, the House of Commons, and the House of Lords were separate branches of government.

Q: What was the significance of the US system of government and how did it influence the development of the US government?

A: The US system of government was a significant development, as it established a system of government that was similar to the British system. The Constitution created a legislative branch, which was given the power to make laws, to approve taxes, and to hold the executive branch accountable for its actions. The Constitution also established a system of checks and balances, which ensured that no one branch of government had too much power.

Conclusion

The creation of Parliament and its powers had a significant impact on the development of the US government. The designers of the US government, including the Founding Fathers, drew inspiration from the British system of government, which had been in place for centuries. The precedent of Parliament established the idea of a representative government, where citizens elected representatives to make laws on their behalf. The end of the divine right of kings marked a significant development in the history of government, as it marked a shift away from absolute monarchy and towards a system of government where the monarch was accountable to the people.

References

The Magna Carta (1215)
The US Constitution (1788)
The British System of Government (13th century)
The House of Commons (14th century)
The Divine Right of Kings (medieval period)