M. Römerio „Reprezentacija ir Mandatas“: šimtas metų Lietuvos konstitucinės ir administracinės teisės doktrinai
| Author | Affiliation |
|---|---|
| Date |
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2026 |
1926 m. pirmą kartą publikuota knyga konstitucinės ir administracinės teisės tematika lietuvių kalba. Tai – M. Römerio monografija „Reprezentacija ir mandatas“ 1. Ši knyga buvo ir pirmas stambesnis teisininko veikalas iš teisės srities. Prieš jai pasirodant M. Römeris buvo išleidęs dar vieną stambų veikalą – knygą apie Lietuvos tautinio kelio atgimimą (1908 m.)2, tačiau tai buvo ne teisės, o Lietuvos istorijos srities darbas. Straipsnyje siekiama atskleisti monografijos „Reprezentacija ir mandatas“ rašymo aplinkybes, jos turinį, įtaką M. Römerio karjerai, studijoms Teisių fakultete, tolesniems tyrimams. Straipsnio tikslas – apibūdinti pirmąjį stambų tyrimą konstitucinės ir administracinės teisės tematika, parašytą lietuvių kalba.
The writing of the monograph Representation and Mandate was determined by several factors. First, the lack of legal literature in the Lithuanian language. Second, the improvement of conditions for studying constitutional law for students. Third, the recently restored state's need for knowledge about the constitutional organization of the state, its relationship with citizens, electoral systems, theories of the state, forms of government, the mission of officials, state functions, the separation of powers, etc. Fourth, the government's funding for the Faculty of Law of the University of Lithuania to publish books. M. Römeris was the first in Lithuanian legal science to write a large-scale study, a monograph in Lithuanian on constitutional, administrative, legal theory and legal history issues. He was the first to speak about the administrative court, the constitutional court, the electoral court, officials and their limited competence and discretionary power, social services, public interest, administrative acts, the separation of powers, the meaning of legal norms and groups, , electoral systems, the meaning of trade unions and other economic entities in governing the state. He was the first to seek an answer on a professional level regarding the most appropriate form of the relationship between the state and citizens. It is more difficult to discern in the monograph the constitutional or administrative law doctrines presented by a purely Lithuanian legal scholar. This is natural, because he was the first to raise various fundamental questions about statehood in general. A basis is needed for the emergence of one's own doctrine, one's own school of law. He created this basis in the monograph under analysis. M. Römeris raised questions that were completely original for that period: what is the main function of the state, what is the meaning and purpose of a legal norm, whether a handful of people can become the exponent of the will of the nation when creating a state, who are the rulers and the ruled, what is the most just relationship between them, how should a parliament be formed that could fundamentally resolve not only social, but also economic issues and challenges of the nation. The title of the book Representation and Mandate and the chosen analysis of these institutions allowed the scientist to seek answers to the listed questions, and most importantly - to search for the best form of the relationship between the nation and state institutions. The lawyer rightly criticized the ideas and theories of Western scientists of that time, for example, the fact that the basis of statehood communication is not social law, but only the subjective rights of citizens, etc. Some of the insights provided by M. Römer are still relevant today or even ahead of their time. For example, he very clearly stated that the rule of the Soviet Union was a failed experiment. In assessing the situation in Lithuania, he clearly justified why a bicameral parliament would be appropriate. From the perspective of our times, he denied the experiment of the corporate state. Representation and Mandate became one of the most important sources for students of the Faculty of Law of the University of Lithuania when studying constitutional law and preparing for its exam. All of M. Römeris’ law books, starting with the monograph Representation and Mandate, were the lawyer’s capital work and legacy to Lithuania on public law. Representation and Mandate marks the centenary of the beginning of the creation of the doctrine of constitutional and administrative law in Lithuania.