信访体制在中国宪法框架中的合理定位

在我国宪法框架下,信访属于辅助政制的范畴,在历史上它是我国核心政制效能严重不足时应运而生的代偿性体制。因复杂的社会经济原因,信访体制一度在我国宪法框架中居于主导地位,后随着核心政制效能的逐渐恢复,其正义推进功能有所收缩。当信访体制发挥对核心政制的补充效用时,两者会相得益彰,若处置不当则难免造成两者间发生"零和博弈"。过度强调信访体制的作用,试图让它承担明显属于核心政制的功能,从中长期的观点看可能失大于得。我国宪法框架现在和未来的走向,应该是核心政制和辅助政制依宪法精神和法治原则各自回归其本位。从根本上说,消解信访困扰的根本出路,在于通过改革提升核心政制的正义推进效能。有必要改革现行信访处置机制,改革的方向应该是消除信访体制运行造成核心政制地位、权威和效能减损的现象和倾向。

The Appropriate Status of "Letters and Visits" in China's Constitutional Law Framework

In the framework of China's constitutional law,"letters and visits," an extrajudicial petition system,serves as a supplementary administrative mechanism originating in a time where political system function was ineffective.For some complicated social and economic reasons,"letters and visits" used to play a dominant role in China's constitutional law framework until restoration of political systematic function.Only when "letters and visits" exercises a supplementary function can it coordinate well with the main political system.Overstressing the role of "letters and visits" and tolerating its usurping the duty of the main political system might bring about adverse effect in a long run.It is necessary for us to reform the existing letters and visits petition system so as to ensure that the status,authority and efficiency of the main political system will not be impaired.