What we are talking about, of course, is habeas corpus, a Latin phrase meaning "you should have the body. Habeas corpus is a Latin phrase meaning "produce the body.The Habeas Corpus Act 1679 is an Act of Parliament in England (31 Cha. 2. c. 2) during the reign of King Charles II. Federal habeas corpus is a procedure under which a federal court may review the legality of an individual's incarceration.