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A citizen's right to ''habeas corpus'' is their right to challenge the government to present a reason for her criminal or civil detention.  This right was first secured by British citizens against their King with the signing of the [[Magna Carta]], a document upon which all Western [[democracy]] is based, and upon which the [[Founding Fathers]] of the [[United States of America]] heavily relied.

A citizen's right to ''habeas corpus'' is his right to challenge the government to present a reason for his criminal or civil detention.  This right was first secured by British citizens against their King with the signing of the [[Magna Carta]], a document upon which all Western [[democracy]] is based, and upon which the [[Founding Fathers]] of the [[United States of America]] heavily relied.

In Latin, the phrase translates roughly as "[we order that] you produce the body".   

Specifically, "habeas corpus" is the name of a writ having for its object to bring a person before a court. In Latin, the phrase translates roughly as "[we order that] you produce the body".   

The right to ''habeas corpus'' is phrased as a [[writ]], making reference to the arcane system of writs by which legal claims were adjudicated prior to the 1900s (e.g., the "writ of replevin," or "writ of mandamus").  Thus, the right is referred to as "the writ of ''habeas corpus''," or, "the Great Writ."

The right to ''habeas corpus'' is phrased as a [[writ]], making reference to the arcane system of writs by which legal claims were adjudicated prior to the 1900s (e.g., the "writ of replevin," or "writ of mandamus").  Thus, the right is referred to as "the writ of ''habeas corpus''," or, "the Great Writ."

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[[Category:Latin Legal Terms]][[Category:Law]]

[[Category:Latin Legal Terms]][[Category:Law]]