The Habeas Corpus Suspension Acts of 1688 were three Acts of the Parliament of England (1 Will. & Mar. cc. 2, 7 & 19) which temporarily suspended the right of habeas corpus in England until 17 April, 25 May and 23 October 1689 respectively. They were passed in the wake of the Glorious Revolution, in which King James II had recently been deposed.
| Act of Parliament | |
 | |
| Long title | An Act for Impowering His Majestie to Apprehend and Detaine such Persons as He shall finde just Cause to Suspect are Conspireing against the Government. |
|---|---|
| Citation | 1 Will. & Mar. c. 2
|
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 16 March 1689 |
| Expired | 17 April 1689 |
| Repealed | 15 July 1867 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1867 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Habeas Corpus Suspension (No. 2) Act 1688 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| Long title | An Act for Impowering His Majestie to Apprehend and Detaine such Persons as He shall finde Just Cause to Suspect are Conspireing against the Government. |
| Citation | 1 Will. & Mar. c. 7
|
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 24 April 1689 |
| Expired | 25 May 1689 |
| Repealed | 15 July 1867 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1867 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
| Habeas Corpus Suspension (No. 3) Act 1688 | |
|---|---|
| Act of Parliament | |
| |
| Long title | An Act for Impowering Their Majestyes to Committ without Baile such Persons as They shall finde Just Cause to suspect are Conspireing against the Government. |
| Citation | 1 Will. & Mar. c. 19
|
| Dates | |
| Royal assent | 28 May 1689 |
| Expired | 23 October 1689 |
| Repealed | 15 July 1867 |
| Other legislation | |
| Repealed by | Statute Law Revision Act 1867 |
Status: Repealed | |
| Text of statute as originally enacted | |
The three Acts were very similar. They each provided that any six members of the Privy Council could sign a warrant committing to prison anyone they suspected of high treason, without bail, mainprise or trial, until the date the Act expired or unless six privy counsellors signed an order permitting their bail or trial. The Acts did not allow the imprisonment of any member of either House of Parliament, unless the House that member belonged to first gave its consent to his imprisonment.
References
edit- The Statutes of the Realm. Vol. 6. 1819.