Mandatory Law: Fundamental Principles

MAX PLANCK ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF EUROPEAN PRIVATE LAW, Jurgen Basedow, Klaus J. Hopt and Reinhard Zimmermann, eds., Oxford University Pres, December 2011

11 Pages Posted: 29 Oct 2011

See all articles by Hans Christoph Grigoleit

Hans Christoph Grigoleit

Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich - Faculty of Law

Date Written: June 30, 2011

Abstract

The terms mandatory law (ius cogens) and non-mandatory law (ius dispositivum) refer to the relationship between a rule of private law and the agreement by the parties. While non-mandatory rules can be set aside by contracual agreement (and sometimes also by a unilateral act of one party), mandatory rules do not allow for derogation by the parties. Since party autonomy (freedom of contract), i.e. the freedom of individuals to determine their legal relationships according to their own discretion, is the most fundamental principle in any liberal system of private law, non-mandatory provisions of law are the general rule whereas mandatory provisions are the exception (cf 2.(b), 3.(b) below).

Keywords: Buergerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB), Capacity, Code civil, Consumers and Consumer Protection Law, Directives, Discrimination, Formal requirements, Freedom of contract, Gender, Good faith, Ius commune, Lease, Mandatory law, Promise Roman law, Standard contract terms

JEL Classification: K10, K12

Suggested Citation

Grigoleit, Hans Christoph, Mandatory Law: Fundamental Principles (June 30, 2011). MAX PLANCK ENCYCLOPAEDIA OF EUROPEAN PRIVATE LAW, Jurgen Basedow, Klaus J. Hopt and Reinhard Zimmermann, eds., Oxford University Pres, December 2011 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1950670

Hans Christoph Grigoleit (Contact Author)

Ludwig Maximilians University of Munich - Faculty of Law ( email )

Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1
Munich, 80539
Germany
+49 (0)89 / 2180 - 1471 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.jura.uni-muenchen.de/personen/grigoleit_hans/index.html

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