Parliamentary Sovereignty:
- The revolution cemented the supremacy of Parliament over the monarchy. From then on, the English (later British) Parliament, not the King or Queen, held the ultimate authority in matters of governance and law-making. This principle became the cornerstone of the Westminster parliamentary system, which is widely adopted in democratic countries.
Limits on Royal Power:
- The revolution imposed significant constraints on the powers of the monarch, who could no longer unilaterally rule or make decisions without the consent of Parliament. This separation of powers between the executive, legislative, and judicial branches paved the way for the balance of power and checks and balances that are fundamental to democratic systems.
Bill of Rights (1689):
- One of the key achievements of the Glorious Revolution was the enactment of the English Bill of Rights in 1689. This foundational constitutional document outlined individual liberties and established essential principles of parliamentary control over the monarchy, such as the right to free speech in Parliament, the right to petition the King, and the requirement for frequent parliaments.
Representative Democracy:
- The Glorious Revolution expanded the concept of representation in government. Members of Parliament were increasingly elected through broader franchises, although universal suffrage was still a distant goal at the time. The idea of electing representatives to deliberate and make decisions on behalf of the people became central to democratic governance.
Influence on Other Democratic Revolutions:
- The Glorious Revolution served as an inspiration and a model for subsequent democratic revolutions around the globe, including the American Revolution and the French Revolution. The concepts of popular sovereignty, limited government, and individual liberties embodied in the Glorious Revolution influenced the emergence of democratic principles in other nations.
Institutionalization of Democracy:
- The Glorious Revolution institutionalized democratic practices and principles in the English (later British) political system. Over time, these principles were further refined and expanded, but their roots can be traced back to the settlement of 1688-89, making it a crucial turning point in the history of democracy.