Read the passage. A Step for Democracy One of the most important years in the history of democracy was 1215, when King John of England signed a document called the Magna Carta. Among other things the Magna Carta made it illegal to buy or bribe one's way out of legal trouble-previously a common practice. More important,the Magna Carta made it clear that the king of England could not change laws or impose taxes without the people's consent. Because of the Magna Carta, the barons of England, along with civic and church leaders, began having regular meetings with the king to discuss matters such as proposed new taxes.The barons were meant to represent the interests of the people who lived on their land. This practice- revolutionary at the time-laid the groundwork for the modern political system known as representative democracy.Representative democracy allows elected officials to speak for the interests of their constituents, the citizens they represent. What is the main or central, idea of the passage? The Magna Carta set the stage for democratic governments by affirming the rights of citizens to participate in government. The Magna Carta led the king to start having regular meetings with the barons of England. The Magna Carta changed the way England's legal system worked by making it illegal to buy or bribe one's way out of legal trouble.