Paralegal Advanced Competency Exam (PACE) Practice Exam

What was the historic significance of the Magna Carta?

1. It established the right to a fair trial

2. It marked the beginning of democratic government

3. It limited royal power and established legal rights

4. It introduced taxation without representation

The correct answer is: It limited royal power and established legal rights

The historic significance of the Magna Carta lies in its role in limiting royal power and establishing legal rights, which laid the foundation for modern democratic principles. Signed in 1215, the Magna Carta was a response to the arbitrary rule of King John of England and set important precedents for individual rights and the rule of law. It asserted that everyone, including the King, was subject to the law, thereby curtailing the absolute authority of the monarchy. This principle of checking power was revolutionary at that time and has had a lasting influence on constitutional law and democratic governance around the world. While other choices have some historical relevance, they do not capture the full essence of the Magna Carta's significance. The right to a fair trial, for example, is one of the rights later interpreted and expanded upon from the document but is not a primary element of the text itself. Similarly, the introduction of democratic government can be seen as a gradual evolution influenced by several factors, not solely attributed to the Magna Carta. Taxation without representation, while a key issue in later historical contexts like the American Revolution, was not a direct consequence of the Magna Carta; it instead relates to the ongoing struggle for representation following the establishment of legal rights. Thus, the option that focuses on