Middle England, Local Self-study

This dissertation studies the local administration system in medieval England. After investigating the history background and the mode of governing, the author considers that the character of local government is local autonomy, and it is the foundation of "the home of self-government" of modern England society.At first, this paper researches the history background and condition of local autonomy. This part comprises two factors. One is the subjective character that the common law tradition manifests. In medieval England, the law is one of the important mode and measure that deals with the society problem. As a governing means, the common law provides a wide law tradition for the local autonomy because of its particular history origin, progress and unique style. Then, from macroscopical level, the institution of local autonomy embodies the relation between king and local society. So it has a relation to the character of king. If the king's power is weak, so the local society has a loose circumstance, and the local government has its subjective and independent role. So the local government has own interest. The relationship between king and local society is favorable. So the third chapter researches the relation through the structure of nation army, and then describes the background of local autonomy.