Jurisdiction in the Territorial Hierarchical Administration Office: An Example of the Historical Land of Styria from 1186 to 1850

Abstract

Division of administrative powers is the result of concrete decisions made by the supreme power holders (ius eminens) to be present in the daily life of an individual. Quarters, district offices (in Slovene: “kresije” [pl.]), counting offices, recruitment districts, and district boards were those agents of power that were used by the supreme power holder to ensure the common good through them. The holder‟s power originated from the supreme power holder. It was restricted by the degree at which he operated. According to the nature of things, the power was subordinated by the delegated competences, and they functioned on the principle of subsidiarity, or it was autonomous under control in the case of the Church. Pragmatism of each supreme power holder is reflected in observing the divisions in operation. They most frequently emerged from the controlled autonomy. KEYWORDS: • jurisdiction • administration • institution • hierarchical character of bureaucratic apparatus • administrative history • Roman Catholic Church