The Magna Carta. This fundamentally altered the relationship between the Monarch and its subjects. It guaranteed citizens a number of constitutional rights that now underpin British and Australian constitutional law. The King had to consult the Kings Council. The Kings Council was elected and made statutes.

The Case of Prohibitions del Roy. This fundamentally altered the relationship between the Monarch and its subjects. It guaranteed citizens a number of constitutional rights that now underpin British and Australian constitutional law. The King had to consult the Kings Council. The Kings Council was elected and made statutes.

The Magna Carta. It is seen as one of the fundamental documents of British and Australian constitutional law. The King is forced to consult the Kings Council. This was a precursor to modern parliament. However, the Kings Council was not elected and could not make statutes.

The Justinian Code. It is seen as one of the fundamental documents of British and Australian constitutional law. The King is forced to consult the Kings Council. This was a precursor to modern parliament. However, the Kings Council was not elected and could not make statutes.

 To make moral acts illegal

To regulate human behaviour

To enforce precedent

To make immoral acts illegal

The King could not be personally involved in common law courts

An Act of Parliament could no longer change the common law

The barons and King John distributed power equally between the Crown and the landed aristocracy

The French law at that time was codified into one unified document

Magna Carta

The King’s Council

Napoleon

King John

Was a peace treaty King John signed with the Barons in 1215, forcing him to consult with the ‘Kings Council’ 

Created the first Parliament, which sat in London and passed the first statutes in the UK

Was the sources and principles of the law collected by Roman Emperor Justinian

Was the same as a Bill of Rights, establishing proper democracy in the UK for the first time in history

Became the basis of the UK legal system, known as the ‘Common Law’

 Became the basis of European legal systems, known as the ‘Civil Law’

Was based on Biblical Law as found in the Old Testament

Disappeared completely when the Roman Empire declined and fell

Preventing the King from being personally involved in Common Law Courts.

Impeding the King from sitting in all Common Law Courts.

Restricting the King’s ability to declare war without further consideration.

Allowing the King to pass judgements when sitting in the King’s Bench. 

Incorporated the French Civil Code, the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Penal Code and the Commercial Code

Was the beginning of the common law which is the basis of legal systems in the UK, Australia and the U.S.

Incorporated the legal code which had been set out in the Magna Carta in 1215

Was a series of judgments made in French courts which was used as precedent by French judges

This does not affect South Australia, but may in the future. It means that English law has now been received into Australian law

This affects South Australia and all eastern colonies. It means that there has been a shift from responsible governors to absolute rulers

This does not affect South Australia. It means that there is a shift from dictatorship to responsible governors and a bicameral Parliament.

This only affects some states, not South Australia or Tasmania as of yet. It means that governors of some of the colonies have now become Members of Parliament

A Colonial Matter

A Federal Matter

A State Matter

An International Matter