Understanding Legal and Political Changes in the Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, significant changes occurred in England and Scotland that shaped the political and legal systems we know today. Let’s break this down into simpler parts.
The Development of Parliament
- What is Parliament?
- Parliament is a group of people who make laws for the country. It helps to govern and make decisions on behalf of the citizens.
- Origin of Parliament
- Parliament started as a council for the king, made up of important noblemen and church leaders. These advisers helped the king make decisions.
- King’s Power Before 1215
- Before 1215, the king had almost complete power. He could make laws and collect taxes without needing anyone’s approval.
- The Magna Carta
- In 1215, King John was forced by his noblemen to sign the Magna Carta, which means “Great Charter.” This document limited the king’s power and established that he must follow the law.
- Importance of the Magna Carta
- The Magna Carta protected the rights of the nobility and required the king to involve them in decisions, especially when collecting taxes.
The Structure of Parliament
- Houses of Parliament
- As Parliament grew, it split into two parts, called Houses:
- House of Lords: Made up of noblemen, landowners, and bishops.
- House of Commons: Elected members, including knights and wealthy townspeople.
- As Parliament grew, it split into two parts, called Houses:
- Voting
- Only a small percentage of the population could vote for members of the House of Commons. This meant that not everyone had a say in government.
Parliament in Scotland
- Scottish Parliament
- Scotland developed its own Parliament, which had three parts known as Estates:
- Lords
- Commons
- Clergy
- Scotland developed its own Parliament, which had three parts known as Estates:
Development of the Legal System
- Judges and Independence
- During this time, judges became independent from the government. This meant they could make fair decisions without influence from the king.
- Common Law
- In England, judges created ‘common law’ by following previous court decisions. This means they used earlier rulings to help decide new cases.
- Codified Laws in Scotland
- In Scotland, laws were ‘codified,’ meaning they were written down in clear rules for everyone to follow.
Questions for Practice
Easy Level Questions
- What is Parliament?
- A) A place for sports
- B) A group that makes laws
- C) A type of food
- D) A royal palace
- Who was King John?
- A) A famous singer
- B) A king who signed the Magna Carta
- C) A knight
- D) A farmer
- What does Magna Carta mean?
- A) Great Charter
- B) Small Book
- C) Royal Decree
- D) King’s Orders
- What did the Magna Carta do?
- A) Gave the king more power
- B) Limited the king’s power
- C) Created a new law
- D) Banned taxes
- What are the two Houses of Parliament?
- A) House of Lords and House of Commons
- B) House of Kings and House of Queens
- C) House of Commons and House of People
- D) House of Teachers and House of Students
- Who sits in the House of Lords?
- A) Common people
- B) Bishops and noblemen
- C) Teachers
- D) Shopkeepers
- Who can vote for the House of Commons?
- A) Everyone
- B) Only noblemen
- C) A small part of the population
- D) The king
- What is the legal system?
- A) A system for making food
- B) A way to create laws
- C) A method for sports
- D) A government department
- What does it mean for judges to be independent?
- A) They work for the king
- B) They can make fair decisions
- C) They follow the king’s orders
- D) They are elected by the people
- What is common law?
- A) A type of food
- B) Laws created by judges
- C) A law for everyone
- D) A law from the king
Medium Level Questions
- In what year was the Magna Carta signed?
- A) 1215
- B) 1300
- C) 1150
- D) 1500
- Why did King John sign the Magna Carta?
- A) To gain more power
- B) Because he was forced by noblemen
- C) To make friends
- D) To celebrate his birthday
- How did Parliament help the king?
- A) By giving him money
- B) By making him more powerful
- C) By helping him make decisions
- D) By allowing him to collect taxes freely
- What are the three parts of the Scottish Parliament called?
- A) Lords, Commons, and Clergy
- B) Kings, Queens, and Knights
- C) Lords, People, and Citizens
- D) Nobles, Clergy, and Merchants
- What does it mean for a law to be codified?
- A) It is forgotten
- B) It is written down clearly
- C) It is spoken only
- D) It is changed every year
- Who was involved in the king’s council?
- A) Only the king
- B) Noblemen and church leaders
- C) Common people
- D) Only knights
- What was one effect of the Magna Carta?
- A) The king could make any law
- B) The king had to share power with noblemen
- C) There were no taxes
- D) The king became a commoner
- What is the main role of the House of Commons?
- A) To collect taxes
- B) To make laws and represent the people
- C) To advise the king
- D) To celebrate events
- What does the term “precedence” mean in the legal system?
- A) Creating new laws
- B) Following previous decisions
- C) Ignoring old cases
- D) Making laws for only one person
- What is one difference between English and Scottish law?
- A) English law is only for men
- B) Scottish law is written down
- C) English law does not exist
- D) Scottish law is simpler
Hard Level Questions
- How did the Magna Carta influence modern democracy?
- A) It allowed anyone to become king
- B) It established that everyone is subject to the law, including rulers
- C) It made all laws temporary
- D) It required kings to have a palace
- What was the significance of having two Houses in Parliament?
- A) It represented different groups of people and interests
- B) It confused everyone
- C) It allowed only the king’s friends to sit
- D) It made laws easier to change
- How did the legal system in England develop over time?
- A) By ignoring past cases
- B) By using common law and precedence
- C) By only following the king’s orders
- D) By using random decisions
- Why were judges’ independence important?
- A) To ensure fair trials
- B) To make judges more powerful
- C) To allow judges to be elected
- D) To confuse the people
- How did the structure of Parliament reflect the social hierarchy of the time?
- A) Everyone was equal in Parliament
- B) It included different classes of society
- C) Only kings were represented
- D) It was only for common people
- What role did the clergy play in the original Parliament?
- A) They provided religious guidance and support
- B) They were not allowed to participate
- C) They made all the laws
- D) They were only advisors to the king
- Why was the year 1215 significant in English history?
- A) It marked the end of the monarchy
- B) It was when the Magna Carta was signed
- C) It was the beginning of the Industrial Revolution
- D) It was when the first Parliament was formed
- How did the House of Lords differ from the House of Commons in terms of membership?
- A) Lords were elected, Commons were not
- B) Lords were appointed, Commons were elected
- C) Lords were commoners, Commons were nobles
- D) Lords could only be women, Commons could be men
- What was one key principle established by the Magna Carta?
- A) The king could rule without limits
- B) The king could not collect taxes without consent
- C) Only the king could make laws
- D) Laws were only for common people
- What does it mean for a law to be “written down” or codified?
- A) The law is only spoken
- B) The law is easily accessible and clear to all
- C) The law is only used by the king
- D) The law can be changed at any time
Answers and Explanations
Easy Level Answers
- B) A group that makes laws
- B) A king who signed the Magna Carta
- A) Great Charter
- B) Limited the king’s power
- A) House of Lords and House of Commons
- B) Bishops and noblemen
- C) A small part of the population
- B) A way to create laws
- B) They can make fair decisions
- B) Laws created by judges
Medium Level Answers
- A) 1215
- B) Because he was forced by noblemen
- C) By helping him make decisions
- A) Lords, Commons, and Clergy
- B) It is written down clearly
- B) Noblemen and church leaders
- B) The king had to share power with noblemen
- B) To make laws and represent the people
- B) Following previous decisions
- B) Scottish law is written down
Hard Level Answers
- B) It established that everyone is subject to the law, including rulers
- A) It represented different groups of people and interests
- B) By using common law and precedence
- A) To ensure fair trials
- B) It included different classes of society
- A) They provided religious guidance and support
- B) It was when the Magna Carta was signed
- B) Lords were appointed, Commons were elected
- B) The king could not collect taxes without consent
- B) The law is easily accessible and clear to all
