Legal Definitions - constitutiones principum

Definition: Constitutiones principum is a Latin term that refers to imperial decrees or laws issued by the Roman emperor. These laws were later compiled into collections known as constitutiones. They were the only form of legislation after the third century A.D.

Example: The Theodosian Code and the Code of Justinian are examples of collections of constitutiones.

Explanation: The constitutiones took various forms, including orationes, edicta, mandata, decreta, and rescripta. They were created by jurists and were used to create, declare, or modify laws. The increasing number of constitutiones led to their arrangement into collections. The Theodosian Code and the Code of Justinian are examples of such collections.

Additional Example: In England, a constitutiones can also refer to a statute or a provision of a statute.

Explanation: In England, a constitutiones can also refer to a settlement achieved without a trial or the sum paid according to the settlement. It can also refer to a statute or a provision of a statute.