Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online

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Public law
(7,963 words)

1. Definition

Since the 19th century, the legal system (Law) has typically been described as twofold, with the body of legal norms divided into “public” and “private law” such that all norms belong to one or the other sphere. In modern legal systems, public law comprises the sub-categories of constitutional law and administrative law, the former generally being further subdivided into government law (includi…

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Simon, Thomas, “Public law”, in: Encyclopedia of Early Modern History Online, Editors of the English edition: Graeme Dunphy, Andrew Gow. Original German Edition: Enzyklopädie der Neuzeit. Im Auftrag des Kulturwissenschaftlichen Instituts (Essen) und in Verbindung mit den Fachherausgebern herausgegeben von Friedrich Jaeger. Copyright © J.B. Metzlersche Verlagsbuchhandlung und Carl Ernst Poeschel Verlag GmbH 2005–2012. Consulted online on 29 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2352-0272_emho_COM_024943>
First published online: 2015
First print edition: 20210107



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