The 1938 Constitution Regarding the Administrative-Territorial Organization of Romania
The 1938 Constitution Regarding the Administrative-Territorial Organization of Romania
Author(s): Dragoș Păun, Ciprian-Adrian PăunSubject(s): History, Law, Constitution, Jurisprudence, History of Law, Constitutional Law, Political history, Recent History (1900 till today), Interwar Period (1920 - 1939), Administrative Law
Published by: Bogdan Vodă University Press
Keywords: administrative reform; authoritarianism; descentralization; royal resident;
Summary/Abstract: This study analyzes the 1938 Constitution of Romania, focusing on its impact on the administrative-territorial organization. Promulgated during King Carol II’s authoritarian regime, the Constitution marked a shift from parliamentary monarchy to royal dictatorship. Emphasizing executive dominance, the Constitution redefined administrative units, introduced ten regions (ținuturi), and diminished local autonomy by replacing elected councils with appointed officials. The Royal Resident became the central figure of regional governance, assuming extensive supervisory and executive powers. This legal framework institutionalized centralized control, aligning with European authoritarian trends of the time. While designed to professionalize and depoliticize public administration, the law ultimately fostered bureaucratic control, weakened democratic institutions, and proved incompatible with Romania’s socio-political realities on the eve of World War II.
Journal: Cluj University Journal. Interdisciplinary: Social Sciences and Humanities
- Issue Year: 3/2025
- Issue No: 1
- Page Range: 55-64
- Page Count: 10
- Language: English
