King John of England’s acceptance of Magna Carta and its written limits on his royal power was a truly watershed moment, establishing for the first time the now firmly ingrained principle that every person, even the king, is subject to the law. Although the original document was later annulled, through its reissuance and reinterpretation over the next several centuries, Magna Carta gained new life and significance and ushered in major and lasting changes. Not only did Magna Carta formally challenge the autocracy of the king, but it became a resounding affirmation of the rule of law that laid the foundation for the common law system in the English-speaking world. The fundamental principles of freedom and equality embedded in the document subsequently informed several constitutional documents, including the U.S. Bill of Rights. The gravity and widespread impact of the changes Magna Carta brought about have made it one of the most important documents in the history of democracy.1
While not all change is as fundamental as that ushered in by Magna Carta, continual change and reform, however challenging, have been essential to human progress throughout history. There is no shortage of quotes from great leaders capturing the importance of embracing change. Benjamin Franklin stated bluntly, “When you’re finished changing, you’re finished,” while President John F. Kennedy later recognized that “Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or the present are certain to miss the future.” President Abraham Lincoln perhaps best captured the need for continual adaptation, observing, “As our case is new, so we must think anew and act anew.”
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