Universal (act)

Universal (act)

Universal ( _pl. Uniwersał, _uk. Універсал) is a historic term that means an official proclamation or legal act. In several historic periods Universals were issued by the Polish and Ukrainian authorities. The name originates from Latin "litterae universales", meaning universal publication directed to all. The term was recently revived in modern Ukraine where Universal of National Unity, a political multiparty agreement signed on August 3, 2006, ended the parliamentary crisis.

Universals in the History of Poland

Universals were issued by the kings and governing authorities of the Kingdom of Poland and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. In the Commonwealth, a universal could be a letter from the king read publicly to address significant events or a legal act by the king related to economic, military or religious matters. Universals were also routinely used to call the szlachta to assemble for a Sejm, or to report for pospolite ruszenie (or "common levy"). Universals could also be issued by high officials of the Commonwealth, like hetmans commanding military forces or voievodes overseeing a voivodeship. One of the most significant universals was the Uniwersał Połaniecki issued by Tadeusz Kościuszko in 1794, which proclaimed the end of serfdom.

Universals in the History of Ukraine

In Ukrainian history, Universals has been used as a name for the act issued by the authorities. The main purpose of the Universal was to inform the people of the important decisions taken by the authorities. Thus, Universal is sometimes used interchangeably with "Declaration".

Cossack times

Between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, the "Universals" were issued by the Cossack leadership, such as Hetmans, other members of Starshyna (Cossack nobility) and Polkovnyks.

Ukraine People's Republic

In 1917-1918 four Universals were issued by Central Rada, the leading body of the short-lived Ukrainian People's Republic. These documents marked the main stages of the development of the nascent Ukrainian state, from the proclamation of its autonomy to the declaration of full independence.

Modern revival

During the 2006 Parliamentary crisis in Ukraine, the term was revived on the initiative of Viktor Yushchenko, a President of Ukraine. After difficult and, at times, tense negotiations between the President and several political forces representing the Parliamentary factions, all sides eventually agreed to a powersharing compromise that led to an expanded governmental coalition and agreed to sign a compromise document titled a Universal of National Unity.

ee also

* Act Zluky, a universal issued by the Directorate of UPR

References

*uk icon Volodymyr Kubiyovych; Zenon Kuzelia, "Енциклопедія українознавства (Encyclopedia of Ukrainian studies)", 3-volumes, Kiev, 1994, ISBN 5-7702-0554-7
*uk icon Ihor Sytyi, [http://www.heritage.com.ua/spadshina/istorija/index.php?id=51 Hetman Universals and seal in the collection of Chernihiv Museum of History] .
*Steven Lee Myers, [http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/03/world/europe/03cnd-ukraine.html?ex=1157342400&en=f6fa44d44fcdec08&ei=5070 Ukrainian Leader Strikes Deal With Critics] , "The New York Times", August 3, 2006


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем написать курсовую

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Universal — may refer to:* The Universe, defined as the summation of all particles and energy that exist and the space time in which all events occurAs a modifier* Universal (metaphysics) * Universal joint, a machine part consisting of a pair of hinges… …   Wikipedia

  • Act Zluky — The signing of the Act Zluky, on the St. Sophia Square in Kiev. The Unification Act (Ukrainian: Акт Злуки, Act Zluky) was an agreement signed on January 22, 1919 by the Ukrainian People s Republic and the West Ukrainian People s Republic on the… …   Wikipedia

  • Universal health care — is health care coverage which is extended to all eligible residents of a governmental region. Universal health care programs vary widely in their structure and funding mechanisms, particularly the degree to which they are publicly funded.… …   Wikipedia

  • Universal jurisdiction — or universality principle is a controversial principle in international law whereby states claim criminal jurisdiction over persons whose alleged crimes were committed outside the boundaries of the prosecuting state, regardless of nationality,… …   Wikipedia

  • Universal pragmatics — Universal pragmatics, more recently placed under the heading of formal pragmatics, is the philosophical study of the necessary conditions for reaching an understanding through communication. The philosopher Jürgen Habermas coined the term in his… …   Wikipedia

  • Universal service — is an economic, legal and business term used mostly in regulated industries. Originating in the telecommunications sector of the United States, universal service refers to the practice of providing a baseline level of services to every resident… …   Wikipedia

  • Universal Declaration of Human Rights — Eleanor Roosevelt with the Spanish version of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. C …   Wikipedia

  • Universal Music Group — Type Subsidiary of Vivendi Industry Music entertainment Founded 1934 (as Decca Records USA) 1989 (MCA …   Wikipedia

  • Universal Sports — Launched 2006 (as World Championship Sports Network) June 16, 2008 (as Universal Sports) Network Universal Sports Owned by NBCUniversal and InterMedia Partners Picture format 48 …   Wikipedia

  • Universal preschool — is the notion that access to preschool should be available to families similar to Kindergarten. Child advocates have different definitions of the definition of who is included and how it is to be funded. There has been a move to change the name… …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”