Civic Literacy Practice Test 2026 - Free Civic Literacy Questions and Study Guide

The Magna Carta is crucial in the development of constitutional governance and establishes the principle of rule of law, which is the idea that everyone, including government officials, is subject to the law. Signed in 1215, it was a significant milestone in limiting the arbitrary power of the monarch and asserting that the king could not exploit his power over the subjects. This principle laid the groundwork for future legal frameworks and democratic governance by ensuring that laws applied equally to all individuals, thereby promoting fairness and accountability within the government.

In contrast, while documents like the Constitution do address limiting government powers, the specific wording and context of the Magna Carta directly relate to the establishment of the rule of law. The other options misinterpret or inaccurately attribute core themes to their respective documents, notably mischaracterizing the Bill of Rights and the Declaration of Independence.