Törvénykönyv

Törvénykönyv is the Hungarian term for a codified collection of laws that organizes statutes on a specific domain into a single, systematic document. It is used to describe such a code in civil, criminal, commercial, or administrative law. The word combines törvény (law) and könyv (book). A törvénykönyv typically aims to provide clear, general principles, define rights and obligations, and set out the rules and remedies applicable within its scope. It is usually enacted by Parliament and remains binding on individuals and institutions, while remaining subordinate to the constitution; constitutional provisions guide interpretation and may constrain changes.

Törvénykönyvek are usually structured in parts or books, with general provisions that apply broadly, followed by more specific chapters or sections that regulate particular subjects, contracts, property, obligations, or criminal offenses, depending on the field. In many legal systems the civil code and the criminal code are examples of separate törvénykönyvek. In Hungary, notable examples include the Polgári Törvénykönyv (Civil Code) and the Büntető Törvénykönyv (Criminal Code). The concept of a code of laws is central to civil law traditions, where codes aim to provide codified, accessible rules that facilitate uniform application and predictability.

Historically, the codification movement, influenced by the Napoleonic Code and other continental codes, shaped the development of modern legal systems in Hungary and across Europe.