Habeas Corpus Act 1679

E10623

The Habeas Corpus Act 1679 is a landmark English statute that strengthened legal protections against unlawful imprisonment by ensuring prompt judicial review of detentions.

Jump to: Surface forms Statements Referenced by

Statements (46)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Act of Parliament of England
habeas corpus statute
aimedAtProtecting liberty of the subject
appliesTo persons detained on civil process
persons detained on criminal charges
assentedToBy Charles II of England
associatedWith struggles between Crown and Parliament over arbitrary imprisonment
category English constitutional legislation
human rights legislation
country Kingdom of England
dateEnacted 27 May 1679
ensures access to the writ of habeas corpus
judicial oversight of executive detention
historicalSignificance key statute in the evolution of the rule of law
landmark in the development of civil liberties in England
influenced constitutional protections of personal liberty in common law jurisdictions
habeas corpus provisions in the United States
later habeas corpus legislation in the United Kingdom
jurisdiction England
Wales
languageOfDocument English
legalSubject habeas corpus
personal liberty
unlawful detention
legalSystem common law
longTitle Habeas Corpus Act 1679 self-linksurface differs
surface form: An Act for the better securing the Liberty of the Subject, and for Prevention of Imprisonments beyond the Seas
monarchAtEnactment Charles II of England
partOf English constitutional law tradition
passedBy Parliament of England
prohibits moving prisoners between prisons to evade habeas corpus
sending prisoners to places outside the realm to avoid judicial review
providesFor damages for persons unlawfully detained
penalties for judges and officers who disobey writs of habeas corpus
purpose to ensure prompt judicial review of detentions
to prevent imprisonment beyond the seas
to strengthen protections against unlawful imprisonment
regnalYearCitation 31 Cha. 2 c. 2
relatedTo English Bill of Rights
surface form: Bill of Rights 1689

Petition of Right 1628
surface form: Petition of Right
requires speedy production of prisoners before a court
that jailers certify the cause of detention
that prisoners be brought before the court within a limited time
shortName Habeas Corpus Act 1679 self-link
timePeriod Stuart period
surface form: Restoration era
typeOfRemedy procedural safeguard against arbitrary detention
yearEnacted 1679

Referenced by (6)

Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

Constitution of Peru guaranteesRight Habeas Corpus Act 1679
this entity surface form: habeas corpus
Magna Carta influenced Habeas Corpus Act 1679
Restoration legalAct Habeas Corpus Act 1679
subject surface form: Restoration (England)
Habeas Corpus Act 1679 longTitle Habeas Corpus Act 1679 self-linksurface differs
this entity surface form: An Act for the better securing the Liberty of the Subject, and for Prevention of Imprisonments beyond the Seas
Habeas Corpus Act 1679 shortName Habeas Corpus Act 1679 self-link
Exclusion Crisis significantEvent Habeas Corpus Act 1679