Study for the HISET Social Studies Test. Access practice exams and detailed explanations to boost your confidence. Prepare effectively and succeed in your test!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.


What document limited the power of the king in England by establishing legal rights for citizens?

  1. Magna Carta

  2. Treaty of Versailles

  3. Declaration of Independence

  4. Constitution of the United States

The correct answer is: Magna Carta

The document that limited the power of the king in England and established legal rights for citizens is the Magna Carta. Signed in 1215 by King John of England, the Magna Carta was a groundbreaking charter that introduced the principles of due process, the rule of law, and the idea that the monarch's authority was not absolute. This meant that even the king had to abide by the law, which was a significant shift from the previous notions of divine right and absolute power held by monarchs. The Magna Carta laid the foundation for many legal systems that followed, influencing constitutional law and the development of individual rights in democratic societies. Its impact resonated throughout history, shaping various documents that sought to secure personal freedoms and limit governmental power.