An effect of the Magna Carta in England was that it limited the power of the king, particularly by restricting royal taxes and assessments, and reformed laws and judicial procedures to protect certain rights of the people, including the barons, church, merchants, and townspeople
. It established the principle that the king and his government were not above the law, marking a foundational step toward constitutional governance and parliamentary supremacy
. Specifically, the Magna Carta guaranteed that people could not be punished without lawful conviction, ensured swift and impartial justice, and prevented the sale or delay of justice, thereby laying the groundwork for the rule of law and judicial independence
. It also gave the barons the right to take action against the king if he failed to uphold the charter’s provisions, introducing a formal mechanism to hold the monarch accountable
. Over time, the Magna Carta influenced the development of English law and constitutional principles, inspiring later documents such as the Petition of Right (1628) and the Habeas Corpus Act (1679), and its legacy extended beyond England to influence constitutional law in other countries, including the United States
