It did not create and give powers to government in a manner a constitution does; but was, as far as it went, of the nature of a re-conquest, and not a constitution; for could the nation have totally expelled the usurpation, as France has done its despotism, it would then have had a constitution to form.
Paine explains that Magna Charta was not a constitution creating government powers but rather a re-conquest, arguing that a true constitution is formed after expelling usurpation.
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