"Tumbo viejo" or cartulary of the Lugo Cathedral, page 3

The Decreta of León of 1188.

The Decreta of León of 1188 consist of a group of documents that contain the oldest known written information regarding the European parliamentary system. It originated in Mediaeval Spain and was based on the celebration of a Curia Regia (Royal council) during the reign of Alfonso IX of León (1188-1230). The decrees reflect an original model of government and administration within the framework of Spanish Mediaeval institutions. The institutional presence of the common people in higher-level decision making, together with the king, the church and the nobility, occurred for the first time through the elected representatives of the towns and cities.