THE CONSTITUTIONAL DEVELOPMENT OF SERBIA FROM 1835. TO 1868

Abstract

The topic of this work is a consideration of the constitutional development of Serbia from 1835 to 1838. The characteristic of this period is in the fact that, at that time, Serbia was a vassal state within Turkey. In such circumstances its inner development depended widely on attitudes of Turkey and other great powers that were directly interested in the Balkans ( first of all, Austria and Russia ). Consequently, already after its being given a status of a vassal principality, these powers intervened against Sretenje Constitution issuing the Constitutional Act for Serbia by Turkey in 1838. This Turkish Constitution from 1838 lasted till 1869, but the power holders in Serbia tried to change it ‘the other way round’. Particularly important was the attempt of prince Mihailo to change the constitutional order in Serbia by issuing the basic laws. The attempt passed successfully in the Assembly which took place in Kragujevac on the day of Transfiguration in 1861. Some theorists believe that, having done this, Serbia issued its first Constitution (the so-called “Transfiguration Constitution”).