Acta Papensia 2005 - A Pápai Református Gyűjtemények Közleményei 5. évfolyam (Pápa, 2005)
3-4. szám - Műhely - Bánkiné Molnár Erzsébet: Települési igazgatás és jogszolgáltatás a Jászkun kerületben
Műhely Summary ERZSÉBET BANKINÉ MOLNÁR Local Government and Administration of Justice in the Jászkun District The essay introduces the local governments in the so called Jászkun District, which was one of the privileged districts in Hungary during the 17,h-19lh centuries. Surrounded by conuties between 1696-1876, the District was an independent admisintrative unit consisting of 25 com- munities.The residents who belonged to the landowner from 1702 tol745 redeemed themselves in 1745 and became free. The redeemed territory was considered as an undivided common property and its separation took place only after the revolution in 1848. The local governments of the privileged communities in the district were administered by local councils led by a chief justice. Only landowners and noble men were eligible for membership. The authority of councils included administration of justice, legislation and administration, moreover it ruled the farming of communities and individuals. For example councils adopted local rules, imposed and collected taxes, controlled guilds, fairs, took care of the education of orphans, provided accomodation and food for the military. They regulated employment and trade. The councils excercised the right of presentation in catholic communities, in those of reformed ones they participated in the activity of presbyteries through their members. In both cases they shaped the moral and cultural lives of the communities. Their work was helped by a number of employees. More rights were given to the chief justice in autonomous communities than in serf villages. He had power over the nobility residing in the settlement. Communities in the district had the same privileges, but the size of the local government, the number of officers depended on the size of the community. The number of officers was regulated in 1797. Since then a twelve- member senate and a twelve-member external council with limited rights governed the lives of the settlements. Decision making in the most important questions took place at the assembly of landowners involving the council and the most influential landowners. After the separation of the common property in 1848 local autonomy and the organisation of landowners parted. The essay presents in detail how legislation, administration, and the administration of justice worked. One of the characteristic features of the administration of justice was the harsh infliction of corporal punishments. Instead of 12 rods, which had been ordained by government agencies, they applied 50. The number of blows was reduced to 25 from 1835. Acta Papensia V (2005) 3-4. 245
