Rights

Declaration of Rights. An instrument submitted to William and Mary, on their being called to the throne, setting forth the fundamental principles of the constitution. The chief items are these: The Crown cannot levy taxes, nor keep a standing army in times of peace; the Members of Parliament are free to utter their thoughts, and a Parliament is to be convened every year; elections are to be free, trial by jury is to be inviolate, and the right of petition is not to be interfered with.