Origin of Parliamentarism: an historical review from its crisis : León (Spain) as cradle of Parliamentarsim

AutorMaría Esther Seijas Villadangos
CargoPhD. Department of Public Law. Constitutional Law. University of León
Páginas20-25
Volume 88, número 2, jul./dez. 2016
2
ISSN: 2448-2307
ORIGIN OF PARLIAMENTARISM: AN HISTORICAL REVIEW FROM ITS
CRISIS
1
: LEÓN (SPAIN) AS CRADLE OF PARLIAMENTARSIM
ORIGEN DEL PARLAMENTARISMO: UNA REVISIÓN HISTÓRICA DE SU
CRISIS: LEÓN (ESPAÑA) COMO CERDO DE PARLIAMENTARSIMO
María Esther Seijas Villadangos
2
“Every subject in its simple
elements has its basis in principle
and its record in progress. In all
this diversity truth
demonstrates its harmony”.
3
ABSTRACT
The recognition of The Decreta of León of 1188 as the “oldest documentary manifestation of the
European parliamentary system” by Unesco on 19
th
June 2013 and its inclusion in the International
Memory of the World Register is the starting point of this paper. The explanation argues through a
dialectic methodology. Thesis: England first developed the idea of representative government and
parliamentary institutions. Antithesis: the Decreta of León 1188 predates any historical reference to
parliamentary representation. Synthesis: the citizen attendance, the procedure and the content of the
Decreta of León 1188, supported by the recognition of Unesco proves that León is the “cradle of
parliamentarism”. This historical review stimulates a reflection about the present situation of
parliamentary democracy and, mainly, its crisis. The need of a citizen re-engagement with processes
political, especially in the amendment of constitutions through constitutional conventions should be
our reference. What are the main lessons from history today?
Keywoords: Parliamentarism. Origin. Historical review. Decreta of León of 1188.
RESUMO
1
SEIJAS VILLADANGOS, María Esther. El origen del parlamen tarismo como referente del patrimonio
cultural: implicaciones socioeconómicas, jurídicas y culturales. Research Project - Universidad de León,
España. 2017-2018.
2
PhD. Department of Public Law. Constitutional Law. University of León. E mail: meseiv@unileon.es
3
CAPEN, Nahum. History of Democracy. Political progress historically Illustrated from the earliest to the
latest periods, Hartford, American Publishing, 1874. p. vi.
Volume 88, número 2, jul./dez. 2016
3
ISSN: 2448-2307
O reconhecimento da Decreta de León de 1188 como a mais antiga manifestação documental do
sistema parlamentar europeu" pela Unesco em 19 de junho de 2013 e sua inclusão no Registro
Internacional da Memória do Mundo é o ponto de partida deste artigo. A explicação argumenta através
de uma metodologia dialética. Tese: Inglaterra desenvolveu pela primeira vez a idéia de governo
representativo e instituições parlamentares. Antítese: a Decreta de León 1188 antecede qualquer
referência histórica à representação parlamentar. Síntese: a participação cidadã, o procedimento e o
conteúdo da Decreta de León 1188, apoiada pelo reconhecimento da Unesco comprova que León é o
"berço do parlamentarismo". Esta revisão histórica estimula uma reflexão sobre a situação atual da
democracia parlamentar e, principalmente, sua crise. A necessidade de um reengajamento dos
cidadãos com os processos políticos, especialmente na alteração das constituições através de
convenções constitucionais deve ser a nossa referência. Quais são as principais lições da história de
hoje?
Palavras-chave: Parlamentarismo. Origem. Revisão História. Decreto de León de 1188.
1 INTRODUCTION
To talk about the crisis of present parliamentary systems is a very common topic
nowadays and in the past
4
. We propose to look to the beginning, the cradle of parliamentarism
as a point of departure on a final reflection about current situation. The main goal of this
paper is to alert academics, especially from legal disciplines, to the consideration of Decrees
of León (Spain), of 1188
5
as “the oldest documentary manifestation of the European
parliamentary system” as Unesco has declared on 19
th
of June 2013
6
. We will focus our
arguments in providing a context for the event and in a discussion about its main features
from a constitutional point of view. The method is a dynamic dialectic presentation in which
we argue a thesis: the consideration of England as the traditional reference for historic
parliamentary systems; an antithesis: the evidence of “The Decree of León, Spain, 1188” as
the cradle of parliamentarism and a synthesis, where we try to outline the “basic” connection
4
SÁNCHEZ DE COCA, Joaquín. La crisis de nuestro Parlamentarismo. Madrid: Imprenta de Isidoro Perales,
1914. p. 508. T he author refers a situation where the parliaments represents itself far from being a voice of the
citizens.
5
The Decreta are reproduced in the appendix of this paper. The tra slation has been done according the Spanish
versión of José María Fernández Catón divulgada por el MECD.
6
INT ERNATIONAL Memory of the World Register. The Decreta of León of 1188. The oldest documentary
manifestation of the European Parliamentary System. p. 1. The proposal was submitted in 2012 and registered
one year later, 2013.
(http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/flagship-project-activities/memory-of-the-
world/register/full-list-of-registered-heritage/registered-heritage-page-8/the-decreta-of-leon-of-1188-the-
oldest-documentary-manifestation-of-the-european-parliamentary-system/)

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