What is the 40th clause of the Magna Carta?

Asked by: Bobbie Murray  |  Last update: March 27, 2026
Score: 5/5 (33 votes)

The 40th clause of the Magna Carta states: "To no one will We sell, to no one will We deny or delay right or justice," meaning the King promises not to charge money for justice (sell it), nor refuse it (deny), nor postpone it (delay) for anyone. This foundational principle, often paired with Clause 39, established the cornerstone of due process, ensuring fair legal procedures and access to justice for all freemen, a concept influencing modern legal systems, including the U.S. Constitution.

What is clause 40 of the Magna Carta?

Clause 40 states, “To no one will We sell, to no one will We deny or delay right or justice.” King John referred to himself with the royal “We”. Magna Carta turns 805 years old this year. Like many of the world's greatest documents, it lives on today as the cornerstone of our concept of the Rule of Law.

What is clause 39 and 40 of the Magna Carta?

Magna Carta affirmed the vital principle of freedom under the law. Clause 39 of the Charter said: 'no free man shall be imprisoned or deprived of his lands except by judgement of his peers or by the law of the land'. Clause 40 said: 'To no one shall we sell, delay or deny right or justice'.

What does clause 38 of the Magna Carta mean?

(38) In future no official shall place a man on trial upon his own unsupported statement, without producing credible witnesses to the truth of it.

Are the Magna Carta still valid today 1 part 13 39 and 40?

The Clauses of Magna Carta

There are clauses on the granting of taxes, towns and trade, the extent and regulation of the royal forest, debt, the Church and the restoration of peace. Only four of the 63 clauses in Magna Carta are still valid today - 1 (part), 13, 39 and 40.

What does Magna Carta say? | Clauses 39 & 40: Justice | Magna Carta in a Minute

25 related questions found

Can a codified law be overturned?

Yes, a codified law can be overturned through various means, primarily by a higher court declaring it unconstitutional (judicial review), a legislative body passing a new law to repeal or amend it (like under the Congressional Review Act for federal rules), or in some systems, through direct voter action via referendums, though constitutional amendments are the most powerful way to change fundamental law. The process often involves legislative action, judicial interpretation, and sometimes constitutional amendments, depending on the type and level of law. 

What does clause 52 of the Magna Carta mean?

Clause 52 of the Magna Carta means King John promised to immediately restore any lands, castles, liberties, or rights he (or his father/brother) had unjustly taken from free men without a lawful judgment by their peers, setting up a process for resolving disputes through the 25 barons if necessary, but granting a delay for cases inherited from his predecessors if he was on crusade. Essentially, it's a crucial clause enforcing immediate justice and property rights, ensuring people weren't arbitrarily dispossessed. 

Does the Magna Carta mention Jews?

Yes, Jews are mentioned in the Magna Carta (1215), specifically in clauses 10 and 11, which address Jewish moneylending by preventing excessive interest and protecting widows and underage heirs from debt burdens, reflecting medieval England's complex relationship with its Jewish population and their financial activities, even as Jews were legally restricted from land ownership.
 

Is God mentioned in the Magna Carta?

Yes, the Magna Carta explicitly mentions God multiple times, beginning with King John's title "by the grace of God" and stating the charter was granted "in the presence of God, and for the health of Our soul, and the souls of Our ancestors and heirs, to the honour of God, and the exaltation of Holy Church". The very first clause guarantees the freedom and rights of the English Church, underscoring its Christian framework.
 

What does clause 63 of the Magna Carta mean?

Clause 63 of the Magna Carta is the concluding clause, essentially a grand finale, that reaffirms all the liberties granted throughout the charter, stating the English Church is free, all subjects have their rights and concessions forever, and that both King John and the barons have sworn to uphold these promises in good faith, sealed with witnesses at Runnymede. It serves as the ultimate confirmation that the entire charter, with its numerous feudal and legal reforms, is binding and to be observed perpetually. 

What does clause 35 of the Magna Carta mean?

There is to be one measure of wine throughout our kingdom, and one measure of ale, and one measure of corn, namely the quarter of London, and one breadth of dyed, russet and haberget cloths, that is, two ells within the borders; and let weights be dealt with as with measures.

What does clause 41 of the Magna Carta mean?

All merchants may safely and securely go out of England, and come into England, and delay and pass through England, as well by land as by water, for the purpose of buying and selling, free from all evil taxes, subject to the ancient and right customs—save in time of war, and if they are of the land at war against us.

What is clause 44 of the Magna Carta?

If the king has disseised or dispossessed Welshmen of their lands, liberties or anything else inEnglandor inWales, they are to be given back to them immediately, without any legal proceedings.

What does clause 36 of the Magna Carta mean?

Nothing is to be given or taken in future for a writ for an inquest concerning life or members, but it is to be given without payment and not denied.

What does clause 23 of the Magna Carta mean?

23. No vill or person shall be compelled to make bridges at river banks, except those who from of old were legally bound to do so. Taken from this translation here: magnacartaplus.

What did Einstein say about the Bible?

Albert Einstein viewed the Bible as a collection of "honorable, but still primitive legends" and called the concept of God in theology the product of human weakness, stating he didn't believe in a personal God but rather a Spinozan God revealed in the universe's lawful harmony. He felt scientists are alien to the Bible's literal creation story and that religious faith shouldn't interfere with scientific understanding, seeing religion's domain as distinct from nature's laws.
 

Why did the pope reject the Magna Carta?

Pope Innocent III annulled the Magna Carta in 1215 because King John claimed he signed it under duress (forced), the charter infringed upon the King's rights and Church authority (as England was a papal fief), and it undermined the divine right of kings by allowing barons to overrule the monarch, leading to civil war as barons rebelled.
 

What is Donald Trump's view on Christianity?

Donald Trump identifies as a Christian, stating he is "nondenominational," though raised Presbyterian, and emphasizes his faith in God, viewing himself as a defender of religious freedom and Christianity, particularly for conservative evangelicals, promising to protect Christian values and expression in public life and government, despite some critics questioning his personal understanding or consistent practice of Christian tenets. He actively courts the evangelical vote by promoting policies that support religious expression, appointing conservative judges, and framing himself as a champion against anti-Christian bias, a stance celebrated by his base but viewed by others as blurring church and state. 

Did God give all 613 laws?

Yes, the 613 mitzvot (commandments) in Judaism are traditionally considered to have been given by God to Moses at Mount Sinai, forming the core of the Torah, though the Bible doesn't explicitly state the number 613; Jewish tradition, particularly Maimonides' work, compiled and enumerated them from the texts of the Torah, with the Ten Commandments serving as a summary of these broader laws. The exact list and interpretation vary, with some laws being ceremonial, moral, or judicial, and not all are applicable today. 

Are Arabs allowed to be citizens of Israel?

LEGAL STATUS AND POLITICAL REPRESENTATION

Officially, Arab citizens of Israel have legal rights and status equal to all other Israeli citizens. They have Israeli identity cards and passports, are eligible to vote and run in local and national elections, pay taxes, and have freedom of movement within Israel.

Who owns the Magna Carta?

In December 2007 Rubenstein purchased the last privately owned copy of Magna Carta at Sotheby's auction house in New York for $21.3 million. He has lent it to the National Archives in Washington, D.C. In 2011, Rubenstein gave $13.5 million to the National Archives for a new gallery and visitor center.

What does clause 7 of the Magna Carta mean?

After the death of her husband a widow is to have her marriage portion and inheritance immediately and without difficulty, nor is she to give anything for her dower, or for her marriage portion, or for the inheritance which she and her husband held on the day of his death, and she may remain in her husband's house for ...

Where is the original Magna Carta kept?

Two are kept in the British Library (one of which was badly damaged by fire in 1731), one in Salisbury cathedral, and one in Lincoln castle. They were all written out by different people, and while little is known about who those people were, the documents themselves provide a fascinating insight into their labours.

What is the new law of Magna Carta?

The new law aims to improve all aspects of maritime sector concerning seafarers – from maritime schools, training, welfare and handling of crew claims. The current rule under the POEA SEC is found under Section 20. A, par.