Matt Steilen on Magna Carta and Common Counsel

Ipse Dixit

In this episode, Matthew Steilen, Professor of Law at the University of Buffalo School of Law, discusses his draft article "Magna Carta and the Origins of Legislative Power," which is part of a book project. Steilen begins by explaining the origins and purpose of Magna Carta. He then focuses on Chapter 12 of Magna Carta, which requires "common counsel." He explains why the conventional wisdom about the meaning of Chapter 12 is wrong, and how it was really about requiring spirited debate. He reflects on why that was important and how it informed the development of legislative speech. He also reflects on the historiography of Magna Carta. Steilen is on Twitter at @MJSteilen.

This episode was hosted by Brian L. Frye, Spears-Gilbert Professor of Law at the University of Kentucky College of Law. Frye is on Twitter at @brianlfrye.

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