The Act of Settlement of 1701

The Acts of Settlement of 1701 were pivotal laws passed by the English Parliament to ensure the Protestant succession to the British throne and prevent a Catholic monarch from ruling. These acts designated Sophia of Hanover, a granddaughter of James I, and her Protestant descendants as heirs to the throne, bypassing several Catholic claimants. The legislation laid the foundation for the modern British monarchy by securing parliamentary supremacy over royal authority and influencing the line of succession for centuries. It was instrumental in shaping the constitutional monarchy that governs the United Kingdom today.