The primary significance of the Magna Carta, signed in 1215, lies in its establishment of the principle that everyone, including the king, is subject to the law. It introduced concepts of due process and the rights of individuals against arbitrary authority, paving the way for constitutional governance. Although initially a pragmatic solution to a political crisis, its enduring legacy has influenced numerous democratic societies. The Magna Carta laid the groundwork for later legal documents, such as the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, by asserting that power should be derived from a social contract between rulers and citizens.