In this book top scholars analyse the historic and contemporary influence of Magna Carta, challenging its common myths.

Preface; 1. Magna Carta... Holy Grail? James Melton and Robert Hazell; Part I. Influence in the UK: 2. Magna Carta, the rule of law and the reform of the Constitution Vernon Bogdanor; 3. Eight centuries on: who are Britain's barons now? Anthony King; 4. What Magna Carta means to the modern British public Roger Mortimore; Part II. Influence around the World: 5. The troublesome inheritance of Americans in Magna Carta and trial by jury Renée Lettow Lerner; 6. Magna Carta, the 'sugar colonies' and 'fantasies of empire' Derek O'Brien; 7. Magna Carta frustrated? Institutional delay in the Pacific Island states of the Commonwealth David Clark; Part III. Twenty-First-Century Reflections on Magna Carta: 8. Magna Carta and modern myth-making: proportionality in the 'cruel and unusual punishments' clause Craig S. Lerner; 9. Judicial supremacy: explaining false starts and surprising successes Victor Menaldo and Nora Webb Williams; 10. More magna than the Magna Carta: Magna Carta's sister - the Charter of the Forest Geraldine Van Bueren; 11. Michael Oakeshott, the legendary past and Magna Carta Nathalie Riendeau; Appendix: English translation of Magna Carta (1215).