Resumen de The Portuguese customary electoral constitution: the election of representatives to the ancient cortes

José Domingues, Vital Martins Moreira

• The historic Portuguese Constitution guaranteed the electoral autonomy of the municipalities as part of the prerogatives and freedoms that the monarch swore to respect at the beginning of each reign. Thus, the election of representatives to the old cortes (parliament) was based on traditional, unwritten conventions and practices. The lack of general legislation gave rise to a customary or unwritten electoral constitution, in the true sense of the word. This article deals with the electoral basis that each municipality formed to elect its representatives each time the cortes were convened, based on the king’s letters of convocation and the municipal electoral minutes that have survived to the present day.