Criminal Law in Communist Hungary

In: Slavic review: interdisciplinary quarterly of Russian, Eurasian and East European studies, Band 23, Heft 1, S. 92-102

Abstract

Prior to World War II, Hungary had no written constitution. The Arany Bulla (Golden Bull) in 1222, the Pragmatica Sanctio in 1723, and the Compromise of 1867 were considered basic laws, because they regulated the relations between the king and the "nation" (i.e., the nobility) and contained certain safeguards against tyrannical (arbitrary) government. Before the Compromise, justice was administered by the local (county) government for all inhabitants without state-wide supervision, except for the serfs who were subject to their landlords. The Compromise of 1867, which created a constitutional dual monarchy for Austria and Hungary, was the outgrowth of the revolution of 1848. The immediate results of this revolution were the emancipation of the serfs and the establishment of the Ministry of Justice. Law No. IV of 1869 unified the judicial system nationally by removing judicial power from the jurisdiction of the counties.