Written mainly by the English Parliament in 1688 in response to the abdication of James II, the English Bill of Rights created a constitutional monarchy in England as well as defined basic civil rights. This new political system limited royal power in that monarchs could only rule with the consent of Parliament. In addition, the document established certain individual rights later adopted by the United States’ Bill of Rights, including the right to petition, the freedom of speech and debate (within Parliament), and the curbing of excessive bail and cruel and unusual punishment
