Shortcomings in the Legal Regulation of Representation: Historical Roots and Modern Solutions

The paper examines the need for a clear conceptual distinction between the categories of representation, namely: authority and mandate. The author proposes treating the mandate not merely as an element of a contract but as an independent legal category that should be expressly incorporated into the Civil Code of the Russian Federation (Article 182) alongside authority. It is emphasized that representation without a mandate entails an obligation of «passivity», whereas the mandate «activates» the authority. The author demonstrates that current regulation (Articles 174 and 183 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation) erroneously substitutes «mandate» with «contractual restrictions», thereby creating doctrinal and practical gaps. A distinction is proposed whereby Article 183 of the Civil Code should apply to cases involving the absence or excess of authority, while Article 174 should govern violations of a mandate. A historical analysis shows that authority arising from circumstances (e.g., the actions of a salesperson or cashier) pertains to the acceptance of performance (Article 312 of the Civil Code of the Russian Federation), rather than to the conclusion of transactions. The author therefore proposes deleting paragraph 2 of Clause 1 of Article 182 of the Civil Code and transferring its substance to Article 312, thereby fundamentally revising the conceptual approach to the institution. The paper further criticizes the expansion of representation to encompass juridical acts (such as notices and claims), viewing this as a return to nineteenthcentury doctrine. At the same time, the author underscores the cross-sectoral nature of the institution of representation, while maintaining the unity of its civil-law foundations for the emergence of authority.

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