Editing Napoleonic Code (section)

==Contents of the Napoleonic Code==
The preliminary article of the code established certain important provisions regarding the [[rule of law]]. Laws could be applied only if they had been [[Principle of legality in French criminal law|duly promulgated]], and then only if they had previously been officially published (including provisions for publishing delays, given the means of communication available at the time). In brief, no secret laws were authorised. It prohibited ''[[Ex post facto law|ex post facto]]'' laws (i.e. laws that apply to events that occurred before their introduction). The code also prohibited judges from refusing to do justice on grounds of the insufficiency of the law, thereby encouraging them to interpret the law. On the other hand, it also prohibited judges from making general judgements of a legislative nature (see above).<ref>{{cite web |title=The Napoleonic Code {{!}} History of Western Civilization II |url=https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-hccc-worldhistory2/chapter/the-napoleonic-code/ |website=courses.lumenlearning.com |access-date=30 January 2021}}</ref>{{rs?|date=June 2023}}

With regard to family, the code established the supremacy of the husband over his wife and children, the ''status quo'' in Europe at the time. Women had even fewer rights than children. Divorce by mutual consent was abolished in 1804.<ref>"The ''Code Napoléon'': French Legislation on Divorce," ''Exploring the European Past: Texts & Images'', Second Edition, ed. Timothy E. Gregory (Mason: Thomson, 2007), 62–64.</ref>