Historical Genesis of the State Rulemaking Activities (Middle Ages)

Abstract

The article is studying the historical process of formation of rulemaking activity and rulemaking powers of medieval states (after the fall of the Roman Empire before the discovery of America, namely 476–1492 years), including Kievan Rus, on the basis of legal monuments and historiographical sources. The reasons for the monopolization of rulemaking by the ruling elite and rulers, influence on the process of formation of external forms of law of the historical, cultural and socio-economic conditions of the existence of states, power and tradition of the peoples are revealed. Features of procedures of preparation and adoption of legal acts are considered, the history of codification of customary law, peculiarities of elaboration of rules of legal technique, as well as the process of gradual reception of the revised, codified and updated European University of Roman Law in Italy, Germany, France, Switzerland, France cantons, Scandinavian countries, which replaced the ancient custom and resulted from the development of socio-economic relations. The article substantiates the conclusion that the nature of rule-making powers of the states during the Middle Ages stemmed from the theological justification of power and the corresponding conception of the divine election of the ruler, which led to the increase of absolutist tendencies in the exercise of state power, although some manifestations of influence and traceability were observed, although there were some manifestations of the influence of the population on power, and there were elements of the election of rulers in separate historical periods. However, there was a predominant concentration of rulemaking functions in the hands of the supreme power, which were used to effectively control the population with broad discretionary powers of the supreme power. Also noted as a general tendency is the further increase in the professionalisation of rulemaking activities in the period under review, the strengthening of the process of codification of customary law and the almost universal reception of Roman law in Western Europe, which was also characteristic of Kievan Rus.Manuscript received 29.02.2020