Gesetzgebungskunst im Zeitalter der Kodifikationen

Bernd Mertens presents the first comprehensive description of lawmaking issues from an historical and a comparative point of view. He examines the theories on favourable drafting of laws which have been developed since the Age of Enlightenment and the actual methods and techniques used by the lawmakers in various codification projects. The author deals with lawmaking in civil and criminal law and outlines the development of the theory and practice of shaping the law. He compares the historical development of the theory and practice of lawmaking in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and England (including British India) from the 18th century to early 20th century. The study makes a wide field of research accessible to legal history as well as to modern theory of legislation.