Law is a system containing generally binding, formally fixed normative acts, prescriptions and rules established and implemented by the state. Through law, society expresses its interests, gives individuals subjective rights, but also imposes obligations. Economics, politics and the state have close relationships with law. Without it, these spheres would simply be uncontrollable, and chaos reigned in them. No state is conceived without a right. Without him, his existence is simply impossible. In order for citizens to live in peace and order, there are various laws and regulatory and administrative acts that regulate almost all spheres of human activity. Law is an integral part of modern society. Without it, it is simply impossible to imagine our life that goes on during our daily routine. We don’t even think that when we perform even the simplest actions, we are largely guided by the rule of law.
Code of laws is this?
In order to consider the features of the codes of laws and their history, we give the concept to this definition. The Code of Laws is a systematic and orderly collection of existing civil law laws.
Legal monument of the world
One of the very first written laws was the laws of Hammurabi, which are a monument to the entire legal system. These laws are the legislative code of the period of Ancient Babylon in the 1750s BC. The main text has been preserved. In Akkadian, it is available as cuneiform writing on a diorite stele in a cone shape. It was found in the years 1901-1902 during an expedition by French archaeologists. Modern researchers have divided the Laws into 282 paragraphs, which regulate a variety of issues: legal proceedings, protection of property of various forms, marriage and family relations, private and criminal law.
The purpose of creating the laws of Hammurabi was to unify and supplement the operation of unwritten norms of behavior in the rule of law that existed at that time. The Babylonian legal system for that time was a real breakthrough, and in terms of complexity of constructions only the legal system of Ancient Rome later circumvented it. The laws of Hammurabi are thought out and are distinguished by their harmony in the process of legal regulation. Also, this set is characterized by the absence of religious traits, which makes it a legislative act in full.
The very first in Russia
The beginning of the creation of the first written code of laws in Russia belongs to Yaroslav the Wise. It received the name "Russian Truth" and was a collection of legal norms of Kievan Rus that existed at that time and a source of law. This vault retained its significance until the 15-16th century. Criminal, inheritance, commercial and procedural legal norms were the first to be fixed in writing and were the source of legal relations in the Old Russian state. The short edition was Pravda Yaroslav, Pravda Yaroslavichi, Virky Pokon, Lesson to Bridges.
Vira is a measure of punishment for a murder, which consisted in recovering money from the guilty. Bridges are bridge builders. A short version of the code of laws is 43 articles. The first part includes the most ancient part, which speaks of blood feud, the absence of a clear differentiation of penalties. The second part is already more perfect and is characterized by the presence of higher fines for the murder of members of the privileged sections of society.
the Russian Empire
The code of laws of the Russian Empire is one of the most famous codes in world history. The officially published and thematic legislative acts of the Russian Empire were prepared by the Second Division, which was headed by M. M. Speransky. The first exit of the code of laws is the Nikolaev era. Then, until the beginning of the October Revolution of 1917, laws were periodically reprinted in whole or in part. The collection included 15 volumes that governed relations, rights and obligations:
- Provincial institutions;
- public finance;
- rights of states;
- administrative law;
- civil law;
- criminal law, etc.
Also, the set contained pointers and a reference apparatus. Later, a volume of laws on court proceedings was added to the main body of laws of the Empire. The code of laws of the Russian Empire has become a new stage in the history of the development of the law of our country. After unsuccessful attempts to systematize legislation from the beginning of the 18th century, finally success was achieved and the rule of law was ensured. Scattered in different sources and often unknown to anyone, the norms were gathered together. The basic legal concepts were formulated, the formation of the Russian legal system began. However, like any undertaking, the official first set of laws of the Russian Empire had its drawbacks. He was characterized by some bulkiness, incompleteness, archaism and inconsistency.
Brief Chronology
In February 1833, Nicholas I issued a manifesto on the entry into force of the Code of Laws. The Russian man, Mikhail Mikhailovich Speransky, who was entrusted with the work of compiling the code, was not scared of the forthcoming amount of work. In 1930, under his leadership, the "Complete Collection of Laws of the Russian Empire" was already issued . To check whether this or that act has legal force and does it have any contradictions with others, special audit committees were created, which were formed under the ministries, as well as the main departments. As the only correct legal code, the Code of Laws appeared before the Council of State in 1933. For his work, M. M. Speransky received the award of the Order of St. Andrew the First-Called and the title of Count.
Code Levels
Two levels were identified in the structure of the new first Code of Laws of the Empire. The first was the nationwide Code, the provisions of which were distributed throughout the empire. The second level is the local vaults (particular law), which were applicable to certain lands and their inhabitants. Laws were arranged not by chronological grounds, but by industry.
Volume Structure
In the Russian Empire, the Code of Laws is fifteen volumes devoted to various aspects of society. The structure is as follows:
- 1-3 volumes - the basic laws of the state and provinces;
- 4th — charters defining recruiting and zemstvo duties;
- 5-8 volumes - tax and duty regulations, drinking tax;
- 9th - class laws and rights;
- 10th - civil and land laws;
- 11-12 volumes - provisions on credit and trade institutions, laws of factories, factories and craft;
- 13-14 volumes - the statutes of the deanery;
- 15th - criminal law.
In 1842 and 1857, the Code of Laws was completely reprinted, and after that individual volumes changed and various additions and changes appeared. The latest edition of the Code appeared in 1906.