what was the purpose of the english bill of rights

The English Bill of Rights was passed by the Parliament of England in 1689 and aimed to establish individual rights and liberties for the English people, limit the kings power, and strengthen Parliament's power. The Bill of Rights firmly established the principles of frequent parliaments, free elections, and freedom of speech within Parliament, which are known today as Parliamentary privilege. The main purpose of the act was to declare illegal various practices of James II, such as the royal prerogative of dispensing with the law in certain cases, the complete suspension of laws without the consent of Parliament, and the levying of taxes and the maintenance of a standing army in peacetime without the consent of Parliament. The Bill of Rights also listed individual rights, including the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment and the right not to pay taxes levied without the approval of Parliament. Finally, it described and condemned several misdeeds of James II of England. The Bill of Rights provided the foundation on which the government rested after the Glorious Revolution (1688–89) .