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Simple English definitions for legal terms
constitutio
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A quick definition of constitutio:
Constitutio is a Latin word that means "a decree". In Roman law, it referred to a law issued by the emperor or a collection of laws called constitutiones. These laws took different forms, such as administrative directives, legal decisions, or responses to questions. They were composed by jurists and were the sole form of legislation after the third century A.D. In civil law, constitutio referred to a settlement achieved without a trial and the sum paid according to the settlement. In England, it meant a provision of a statute.
A more thorough explanation:
Definition: Constitutio (kon-sti-t[y]oo-shee-oh) is a Latin term that means "a decree." It has different meanings in different contexts:
- Roman law: Constitutio refers to an imperial decree or a law issued by the emperor. It can also refer to a collection of laws known as constitutiones. These laws took various forms, such as orationes, edicta, mandata, decreta, and rescripta. They were the sole form of legislation after the third century A.D. Examples of constitutiones include Theodosian Code and the Code of Justinian.
- Civil law: Constitutio refers to a settlement achieved without a trial. It also refers to the sum paid according to the settlement.
- History: In England, constitutio refers to a statute or a provision of a statute.
For example, in Roman law, a constitutio could be an edicta that the emperor issued to impose taxes on the citizens. In civil law, a constitutio could be a settlement reached between two parties in a dispute over property. In English history, a constitutio could be a provision in the Magna Carta that granted certain rights to the English nobility.
These examples illustrate how constitutio can refer to different types of laws and decrees in different legal systems and historical contexts.