Cash litigation

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Kassarecess describes a constitutional reform of the imperial-free Hanseatic city of Lübeck in 1665 . It was their only constitutional reform in the period from its foundation in the Middle Ages to the constitutional reforms of 1848–1853.

prehistory

The city of Lübeck has had its own city charter since it was granted city rights in the 12th century . This so-called Lübsche right was passed on to other cities directly and indirectly. Although it was certainly developed further in individual areas, the constitutional content of the city law, which is decisive for the city itself, remained untouched. Over the centuries there were repeated uprisings in which the citizens, especially the artisans who were excluded from any co-determination, tried to fight for more rights; but all of them - be it the bone-hewn uprising under Hinrik Paternostermaker in 1384, the unrest 1408–1415 or the council reshuffle during the Reformation under Jürgen Wullenwever - were ultimately overcome by the conservative forces of the patriciate , returning to their previous state .

In 1661, the city had become incapacitated and the council wanted to remedy this deficiency to improve the income side of the fund at the expense of the citizens, who according to the Lübeck constitution had no say in council decisions. This led to the demand that the citizens, through deputies, be involved in the decisions of the Council on matters relating to the treasury, i.e. the Lübeck state budget.

reform

As a result of the negative attitude of the council, there were several years of unrest in the city, which were settled by the Kassa trial of July 26, 1665. There was a participation of the citizens, whereby the Lübeck Council, true to the Lübeck constitutional principle, received citizens for the administration of the fund, but was able to choose the members from the list of suggestions. In this way, the citizens of the city had won their first say in the city's financial affairs from the patriciate in the council.

consequences

As a result, this constitutional reform was rounded off by another recess , the citizen recess of 1669. This was about the composition of the council, whereby the principle of self-completion remained untouched. Thereafter, the council consisted of four mayors and 16 councilors, who were to be proportionally elected from certain group proposals. The influential circle society was still entitled to three seats among the 16 councilors. This development met with open rejection from the conservative aristocratic circles, for example from the mayor Gotthard von Höveln , who then resigned from the council and placed his estate and himself under the Danish crown.

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