English Bill of Rights (1689) Commentary by Peter Robinson, University of Tokyo, Japan

Explanation and Analysis of the Document

The Bill of Rights can be broken into two distinct parts. The first part contains a list of “abuses” committed by James II, which are then followed by articles that restate the substance of each of these abuses in the negative and declare each of them either “illegal,” “pernicious,” “against law,” or “void.” The second part comprises thirteen articles designed to safeguard the Protestant succession to the throne, to establish that both Houses of Parliament give their assent to the succession and bill, and, finally, to secure the permanence of the document.

First Part: Abuses and Restatements

James's twelve abuses are restated as thirteen articles declaring what are more accurately described as wrongs rather than rights. This was a rhetorical ploy by the framers of the bill to secure its passage in Parliament. By reviewing and assenting to the criminality of James II's actions, it was difficult to deny the correctness of the subsequent...