The Magna Carta, signed in 1215, profoundly influenced the development of constitutional law by establishing the principle that the king and his government were not above the law. This charter aimed to limit the powers of King John of England and guaranteed certain legal rights to nobles and, by extension, to all citizens over time. Its influence is evident in later constitutional documents, notably the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights, as it emphasized the importance of individual liberties and due process of law.