1 Indicate what kind of texts they are, their author and the date they were written. Explain these terms: legislative power, Lords, House of Commons, Parliament. Write down the main ideas of each text. Think. In what parts of his speech does Louis XV justify his absolute power? Which powers of the monarch are limited in the 1689 Bill of Rights? Compare the French monarchy and the English monarchy. Think. Are these texts significant? Why? Your turn English Bill of Rights (1689) The Lords and the members of the House of Commons declare: That the pretended power of suspending the laws or the execution of laws by regal authority without consent of Parliament is illegal . That levying taxes for the use of the Crown without grant of Parliament is illegal . That election of members of Parliament ought to be free. That the freedom of speech and debates or proceedings in Parliament ought not to be questioned in any court or place out of Parliament. 6. House of Commons in the Palace of Westminster, London What was the main form of government in Europe in the 18th century? Describe its features. What other political systems developed from the second half of the 17th century? Explain what they involved. Were they democratic systems? K E Y Q U E S T I O N S English parliamentarism During the 17th centur y, the monarchs of the Stuart dynasty tried to rule the territories of Great Britain and Ireland as absolute monarchs. However, they met with firm opposition from the bourgeoisie, who controlled the Parliament. The conf lict led to the English Civil Wars (1642–1651) and the Glorious Revolution (1688). This ended with the deposition of the Stuart dynasty and the triumph of the parliamentar y monarchy. (6) In this new political system, the law was supreme and the monarch was no longer above the law. In 1689, the monarch had to sign a Bill of Rights. This guaranteed a range of rights and liberties, and established that the monarch could not pass laws, create new taxes or collect them without the approval of Parliament. The foundations of the separation of powers were established . Parliamentarism in the Republic of the United Provinces When the United Provinces became independent from Spain in the 17th centur y, they established a non-absolutist system of government. They became a republic in which the bourgeoisie held political power. The bourgeoisie increased its economic and political power. The Dutch Republic consisted of seven provinces, each with its own parliament. Representatives of all the provinces met in the Estates General to make decisions together. 17
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