<P> The Bill of Rights , also known as the English Bill of Rights , is an Act of the Parliament of England that deals with constitutional matters and sets out certain basic civil rights . It received the Royal Assent on 16 December 1689 and is a restatement in statutory form of the Declaration of Right presented by the Convention Parliament to William III and Mary II in February 1689 , inviting them to become joint sovereigns of England . The Bill of Rights lays down limits on the powers of the monarch and sets out the rights of Parliament , including the requirement for regular parliaments , free elections , and freedom of speech in Parliament . It sets out certain rights of individuals including the prohibition of cruel and unusual punishment and reestablished Protestants to have arms for their defence within the rule of law . Furthermore , the Bill of Rights described and condemned several misdeeds of James II of England . </P>
when did the bill of rights come out
16 December 1689