Claim of Right Act 1689 (Scotland)

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The Claim of Right Act 1689 (Scotland) is a landmark Scottish constitutional statute that asserted parliamentary supremacy, condemned the abuses of James VII, and set conditions for the rule of William and Mary following the Glorious Revolution.

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Observed surface forms (2)


Statements (45)

Predicate Object
instanceOf Act of the Parliament of Scotland
Scottish statute
constitutional statute
affirms freedom of elections to the Scottish Parliament
freedom of speech and debate in Parliament
right of subjects to petition the king
right to bear arms for defence within statutory limits
aimedAt preventing future abuses of royal power in Scotland
assertsPrinciple parliamentary supremacy in Scotland
associatedWithEvent Glorious Revolution
characterizedAs cornerstone of the Scottish constitutional settlement after 1688
condemns abuses of power by James VII of Scotland
imposition of unlawful oaths
interference with the courts and due process
use of arbitrary power by the monarch
use of cruel and unusual punishments
constitutionalSignificance asserted supremacy of Parliament over the Crown in Scotland
defined conditions under which the Scottish crown could be held
country Kingdom of Scotland
dateEnacted 1689
declares that James VII forfeited the Scottish throne
that maintaining a standing army in peacetime without consent is illegal
that the king may not levy taxes without consent of Parliament
that the king may not suspend or dispense with laws without consent of Parliament
hasLanguage Scots law (to a limited extent)
surface form: Scots law
historicalPeriod late 17th century
influenced later Scottish constitutional thought
modern debates on Scottish constitutional status
jurisdiction Scotland
legalSystem Scots law (to a limited extent)
surface form: Scots law
linkedToMonarch James VII of Scotland
Mary II of Scotland
William II of Scotland
partOf Scottish constitutional tradition
preUnion yes
providesFor offer of the Scottish crown to William and Mary
recognizes authority of the Estates of Scotland to determine succession
that monarchy in Scotland is conditional on observance of law
relatedConcept Scottish Claim of Right 1989
relatedTo English Bill of Rights
surface form: Bill of Rights 1689 (England and Wales)
setsConditionsFor rule of William II and Mary II in Scotland
statusInScotsLaw foundational constitutional statute
subjectMatter conditions of monarchy in Scotland
limitations on royal prerogative
rights and privileges of the Estates of Scotland

Referenced by (3)

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

Glorious Revolution legalInstrument Claim of Right Act 1689 (Scotland)
Parliament of Scotland notableAct Claim of Right Act 1689 (Scotland)
this entity surface form: Claim of Right 1689
Act of Security 1704 precededBy Claim of Right Act 1689 (Scotland)
this entity surface form: Claim of Right 1689 (in the broader constitutional sequence)