Proto-constitutionalism - The Imperial Constitution in the Electoral Capitulations and Basic Law Guarantees

Burgdorf, Wolfgang (2018): Proto-constitutionalism - The Imperial Constitution in the Electoral Capitulations and Basic Law Guarantees. In: German History, Bd. 36, Nr. 3: S. 415-431

Abstract

The electoral capitulations of the Old German Empire, the Holy Roman Empire, were formulated by the electors and the elected Emperors had to commit themselves to their observance before their coronation. For the constitutional lawyers of the early modern period, they were 'the quintessence of all imperial laws' and the German 'Magna Carta'. Owing to the electoral capitulations, many elements were introduced into the constitution of the Old Empire from 1519 that would later be found in constitutional constitutions, such as a catalogue of fundamental rights. It is therefore justified to speak of proto-constitutionalism with reference to the Old Empire.

• Dokumententyp: Zeitschriftenartikel
• Fakultät: Geschichts- und Kunstwissenschaften > Department Kunstwissenschaften
• Themengebiete: 900 Geschichte und Geografie > 900 Geschichte
• ISSN: 0266-3554
• Sprache: Englisch