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Draconian constitution
The Draconian constitution, or Draco's code, was a written law code created by Draco in Athens around 620 BC, in response to the unjust interpretation and modification of oral law by Athenian aristocrats. In the mid-seventh century BC, Ancient Greek societies began to codify basic law; this started in Athens with the emergence of Draco's code. The people of Athens commissioned Draco to devise a written law code and constitution, giving him the title of the first legislator of Athens. The literate could read the code at a central location accessible to anyone. This enactment of a rule of law was an early manifestation of Athenian democracy.[citation needed]
Punishments for breaking the laws were severe, often death. The term "draconian", meaning excessively severe, thus derives from Draco's name and his law code. It is often applied to laws or other government measures.
The need for written laws began with the unequal access to legal knowledge of the aristocracy as compared with the general populace; the established laws of Athens were inefficiently formulated in the spoken language and often modified and re-evaluated. The aristocratic exploitation of this system began during the mid-seventh century BC, and laws were often amended to benefit the aristocracy. This triggered feuds by families ignorant of the law in an attempt to obtain justice.
To minimize the incidence of these feuds, the governing aristocratic families of Athens decided to abandon their concealed system of legal proposals and amendments and promulgate them to Athenian society in writing. They authorized Draco, an aristocratic legislator, to construct the written constitution, and he began to write the text around 620 BC. To promulgate the new constitution, its text was inscribed on displaying devices. As a result, the Draconian constitution was accessible to the literate.
Draco introduced the concepts of intentional and unintentional homicide, with both crimes adjudicated at the Areopagus. Since murder cases were tried by the state, feuds as a form of justice became illegal. The homicide laws were the only laws retained by the early-6th-century BC Solonian Constitution.
And Draco himself, they say, being asked why he made death the penalty for most offences, replied that in his opinion the lesser ones deserved it, and for the greater ones no heavier penalty could be found.
— Plutarch, Life of Solon
Although the full Draconian constitution no longer exists, severe punishments were reportedly meted out to those convicted of offenses as minor as stealing an apple. There may have been only one penalty, execution, for all convicted violators of the Draconian constitution and the laws were said to be written in blood instead of ink. These legends have become part of the English language, with the adjective "draconian" referring to unusually harsh punishment.
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Draconian constitution
The Draconian constitution, or Draco's code, was a written law code created by Draco in Athens around 620 BC, in response to the unjust interpretation and modification of oral law by Athenian aristocrats. In the mid-seventh century BC, Ancient Greek societies began to codify basic law; this started in Athens with the emergence of Draco's code. The people of Athens commissioned Draco to devise a written law code and constitution, giving him the title of the first legislator of Athens. The literate could read the code at a central location accessible to anyone. This enactment of a rule of law was an early manifestation of Athenian democracy.[citation needed]
Punishments for breaking the laws were severe, often death. The term "draconian", meaning excessively severe, thus derives from Draco's name and his law code. It is often applied to laws or other government measures.
The need for written laws began with the unequal access to legal knowledge of the aristocracy as compared with the general populace; the established laws of Athens were inefficiently formulated in the spoken language and often modified and re-evaluated. The aristocratic exploitation of this system began during the mid-seventh century BC, and laws were often amended to benefit the aristocracy. This triggered feuds by families ignorant of the law in an attempt to obtain justice.
To minimize the incidence of these feuds, the governing aristocratic families of Athens decided to abandon their concealed system of legal proposals and amendments and promulgate them to Athenian society in writing. They authorized Draco, an aristocratic legislator, to construct the written constitution, and he began to write the text around 620 BC. To promulgate the new constitution, its text was inscribed on displaying devices. As a result, the Draconian constitution was accessible to the literate.
Draco introduced the concepts of intentional and unintentional homicide, with both crimes adjudicated at the Areopagus. Since murder cases were tried by the state, feuds as a form of justice became illegal. The homicide laws were the only laws retained by the early-6th-century BC Solonian Constitution.
And Draco himself, they say, being asked why he made death the penalty for most offences, replied that in his opinion the lesser ones deserved it, and for the greater ones no heavier penalty could be found.
— Plutarch, Life of Solon
Although the full Draconian constitution no longer exists, severe punishments were reportedly meted out to those convicted of offenses as minor as stealing an apple. There may have been only one penalty, execution, for all convicted violators of the Draconian constitution and the laws were said to be written in blood instead of ink. These legends have become part of the English language, with the adjective "draconian" referring to unusually harsh punishment.