Claim of Right

The Claim of Right of 1689 is a key constitutional document in Scottish history that set forth grievances against King James VII of Scotland (James II of England) and asserted the rights and liberties of the Scottish people. In the wake of the Glorious Revolution, this declaration both justified the deposition of James VII and the subsequent invitation to William and Mary to assume the Scottish throne. The document emphasized the sovereignty of the Scottish Parliament and highlighted key principles of Protestant religious liberty, limitations on the powers of the monarchy, and the rights of citizens, thereby laying foundations for later constitutional reforms in the country.