Signed in 1215 by King John of England, the Magna Carta (“The Great Charter”) was written by members of the English nobility. The document responded to concerns that their liberties were at risk without clearly defined rules and that the king was also subject to the law. The Magna Carta asserted that every British citizen was entitled to due process (a fair trial) and that monarchs did not have supreme rule over their subjects. Similarly to the Constitution, the Magna Carta was amended, or updated, several times after its initial signing. 1. What influences did the framers of the Constitution take from the Magna Carta?

2. Why might the requirement of a fair trial have been important to them?