The most important idea from the Magna Carta that influences governments today is the idea that the executive (the king back then, presidents and prime ministers today) does not have unlimited power. Magna Carta made the king share power with his barons -- today executives must generally share power with legislatures.
Another important idea is the right of habeas corpus, which means that a person may not be held in prison unless there is some legal reason for holding them.
Finally, there is also the idea of due process. This is the idea that a person can not be punished (have life, property, or liberty taken away from them by the government) unless they have been legally convicted of a crime.
Together, all of these mean that the we can see the influence of Magna Carta in limitations on the powers of modern governments.
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