What historical document is recognized as a fundamental law guaranteeing rights?

The Magna Carta is recognized as a foundational document in the establishment of individual rights and the rule of law. Signed in 1215, it was designed to limit the powers of the king and laid the groundwork for the development of constitutional governance. While it does not enumerate rights in the way modern documents do, it introduced key principles, such as the idea that everyone, including the monarch, is subject to the law. This concept significantly influenced future documents that enshrined rights.

While the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are critical in the context of American law and rights, and the Declaration of Independence articulates the philosophical foundations of democracy and individual liberties, the Magna Carta is historically significant as a precursor that shaped the legal landscape in which these documents were created. It is often referenced as one of the earliest examples of a charter that sought to protect the rights of individuals against arbitrary authority, making it a pivotal document in the history of democratic governance.