Absolute kings and limited monarchy: Louis XIV and the English Bill of Rights

Grade 7 Social Studies Worksheet

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   The Bill of Rights, 1689

   Who made it: England's Parliament; accepted by William III and Mary II. When: 1689 (royal assent 16 December 1689). Where: London, England. For whom: the people of England and its monarchs. Why: to set limits on the monarch's power. Line 1 (p. 77 of C. Grant Robertson's 1904 printing, original spelling): "That the pretended Power of Suspending of Laws or the Execution of Laws by Regall Authority without consent of Parlyament is illegall." Line 2 (p. 77 of C. Grant Robertson's 1904 printing, original spelling): "That levying Money for or to the Use of the Croune by Pretence of Prerogative without Consent of Parlyament… is Illegall." Line 3 (p. 77 of C. Grant Robertson's 1904 printing, original spelling): "That Election of Members of Parlyament ought to be free." Line 4 (p. 77 of C. Grant Robertson's 1904 printing, original spelling): "That the Freedome of Speech and Debates or Proceedings in Parlyament ought not to be impeached or questioned in any Court or Place out of Parlyament." Below the card, from the US Constitution (1787), Article I: "The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes" (Section 8), and members, "for any Speech or Debate in either House, they shall not be questioned in any other Place" (Section 6).

2. 1.

   Which line says the king may not set laws aside without Parliament, Zee asks?

   • Line 4
   • Line 3
   • Line 1
   • Line 2
3. 2.

   Which line says the Crown may not raise money without Parliament, Ari asks?

   • Line 3
   • Line 2
   • Line 1
   • Line 4
4. 3.

   In line 2, what does "levying Money" mean, Esme asks?

   • Hiding money from the king
   • Raising money, such as by taxes
   • Printing new coins
   • Spending money on palaces and gardens
5. 4.

   Line 1 ends with the word "illegall". What does it mean, Jun asks?

   • A spelling mistake by the printer
   • Against the law
   • Allowed by the king
   • Written in Latin
6. 5.

   Line 4 says speech in Parliament ought not to be questioned in any court. What does that protect, Kira asks?

   • Free speech at the king's palace
   • Courts' power to punish speeches made in Parliament
   • The king's right to stop debates
   • Members' freedom to speak in Parliament
7. 6.

   Which part of the US Constitution below the card matches line 2's idea, Luz asks?

   • Members are not questioned for their speeches
   • The president alone chooses taxes
   • Congress has power to lay and collect taxes
   • No one may collect taxes
8. 7.

   Which part of the US Constitution below the card matches line 4, Milo asks?

   • Courts must approve each speech made in Congress
   • The king may close Congress
   • Congress may lay and collect taxes
   • Members' speeches are not questioned elsewhere
9. 8.

   Why do ideas from 1689 appear in American law, Noah asks?

   • It is a coincidence
   • The English Bill of Rights was one model
   • Americans copied it word for word
   • The US Constitution came first
10. 9.

    Pia's note says, "Line 3 lets the king choose Parliament's members." Which fix is right?

    • Leave it: the king chooses
    • Change "members" to "palaces"
    • Change "king" to "Louis XIV"
    • Change it: elections ought to be free
11. 10.

    Ren's note says, "The Bill of Rights was written in 1904." Which fix is right?

    • Leave it: the date is on the card
    • Change it: 1689; the 1904 book reprinted it
    • Change "Bill" to "Palace"
    • Change "Rights" to "Taxes"