Abstract
This study analyzes the work “The Oracle of Delphi: the Council of State in Imperial Brazil”, by José Reinaldo de Lima Lopes. At first, it expounds an analytical reconstruction of the author’s main arguments, in order to highlight his contributions to the history of Brazilian law. It analyzes, thereafter, the points in which the work lacks of a deeper understanding of Brazilian constitutional monarchy. Based on historical sources, it infers that the Oracle of Delphi establishes a pathway for further research, which in turn should to be more attentive to 19th century constitutional theory, to public discussion as historical source and to the overlap of the executive and legislative branches at the end of the 19th century.
Keywords:
Council of State; Interpretation of law; Legal culture of the 19th century; Brazilian constitutional monarchy