Consistency in constitutional design and its effect on democracy

ABSTRACT

Does the art of crafting and amending a constitution lead to an internal consistency among constitutional provisions, and if so, what effect does that have on countries’ democratic performance? Drawing from theoretical claims on the separation of power and electoral legitimacy, this article develops a concept that identifies the institutional characteristics of consistency and inconsistency in the constitutional design with the example of the presidency. Empirically, this concept is focused on aligning or counterbalancing the mode of presidential election and the de jure power of the president. Based on a comparative perspective of republican parliamentary and semi-presidential systems, the article focuses on the empirical trends of consistent and inconsistent design and addresses their effect on democratic development. The findings show a balance between consistent and inconsistent design in terms of quantity. The influence on democratization varies considerably across different measures but I find significant support for a positive effect of inconsistency on liberal democracy, freedom, horizontal accountability and the rule of law.     

The Consociational System of Democracy in Kosovo: Questioning Ethnic Minorities' Special Status in Kosovo's Constitutional Regime

This article examines the constitutional position of ethnic minorities in Kosovo, the individual features, and the key protection mechanisms applied therein. At the outset, the article provides a general introduction to the topic, illustrating the character of Kosovo's state model. Subsequently, it builds upon the view that Kosovo was shaped under an international supervision, which aimed to establish a state freed from mono-ethnicity, which is regarded as both multi-ethnic and a state of citizens. The article proceeds to explain the institutional mechanisms established with the objective to protect and uphold the ethnic minorities’ position at both central and local levels. Furthermore, it discusses the affirmative human rights law standards granted to ethnic minorities—both at personal and collective levels. The article concludes by suggesting that the constitution of Kosovo provides for a broad degree of self-rule to ethnic minorities, which, in turn, provides them with the capacity to enjoy a rather constitutive position as regards the essential components of the polity.     

Do government sponsored marriage promotion policies place undue pressure on individual rights?

The dominance of social science research in the debate over the Bush Administration’s Healthy Marriage Initiative may explain why questions regarding the proper role of government in regulating adult intimacy have received little attention. Social science research focuses on outcomes such as well-being and health. In contrast, rights-based legal theory considers whether state action undermines the rights of individuals. In this article, I intend to shift the debate over marriage promotion policy from questions of child well-being to questions of individual rights. I will ask the following questions: Do individuals have a liberty interest in making their own choices about intimate relationships, such as marriage? Do federally-financed (and frequently state-run) marriage programs compromise this liberty interest? Are there any constitutional grounds for objecting to marriage promotion policy?     

论公民的法治素质

公民的法治素质是法治意识的基础,是21世纪中国法治建设面临的重要问题,为此,本文率先研究并阐述关于公民法治素质的基本内容,及与之联系的一些基本问题,并从实践的角度分析了公民法治素质的提高和我国经济政治体制改革及思想文化建设的关系。     

行政权力和公民权利：以行政许可法制度为视角的探讨

在宪政框架下,现代行政法律制度的核心是希望在行政权力和公民权利之间寻找一个平衡的支点。在考量行政权力和公民权利的关系时,既要基于公民权利至上的逻辑起点,也要正视现代行政权力扩张的基本事实。新近通过的《行政许可法》对权力(利)框架进行重构,在行政权力和公民权利这一对应层面对权力(利)关系进行诠释,取得瞩目的突破。在宪法保护人权和保护私产的思想指引下,只有在“公民私域权利自由”的基础上充分发挥“公民公域权利自主”的积极功能,才能真正实现公民权利至上和人身彻底解放的终SE目标。     

Referendum on Renzi: The 2016 Vote on the Italian Constitutional Revision

The 2016 constitutional referendum could have marked a new phase in Italian politics, producing a clear shift towards a majoritarian (and de facto presidential) democracy. But a substantial majority of voters rejected the reforms promoted by Matteo Renzi, leading to his resignation as Prime Minister. Once again, an attempt to redesign the Italian institutional framework failed due to party conflicts. This time, the referendum turned into a vote on Renzi himself. This article examines the background to the institutional reforms and the changing dynamics of the referendum campaign. Discussing the final outcome, it argues that this could produce a sort of U-turn in the long Italian transition.     

我国现行宪法在私有财产保护方面的缺陷及其补救途径--修宪之后的思考

一般认为,我国现行宪法在私有财产保护方面存在着两方面的缺陷,即形式缺陷和实质缺陷.对此有三种补救途径:修改宪法的途径,宪法解释的途径,立法法确立的立法监督的途径.本文认为,在强化对私有财产的法律保护方面,立法法所确立的立法监督途径能够发挥比修改宪法或解释宪法更为实际的作用;在宪法监督机制得不到改善的提前下,增补修正有关私有财产保护的宪法条款,对于强化私有财产保护,并无太大的实际意义.     

当今中国宪政、法治实践中的若干理论问题

党的十五大明确提出了发展社会主义民主政治,实行法治,建设社会主义"法治国家"的基本方略,与此同时,宪法就此问题作出了相应的修改与完善.世纪之交的中国社会在宪政法制建设的实践和迈向法治现代化的征途中面临着一系列急待从宪法、法理上予以澄清和正面解答的理论问题,本文就现阶段我国宪政、法治实践中所面临的若干最直接的现实理论问题进行了必要的宪法学、法理学分析和探讨,并对"政治与法治"、"权与法"、"宪政、法治与法制"、"政党、政策与宪法之关系"进行了具体探讨和论述,提出了在"依法治国"过程中必须摆正和处理好上列诸方面宪政、法理关系的具体理论建议和主张.     

论宪法权利的构造

宪法权利的构造方式有两种,一种是规则构造,一种是原则构造。规则是明确命令,它的应用形式是涵摄,而原则是最优化命令,权衡是它独有的运用方式。原则构造迄今引发了诸多反对意见,最为重要的是对权衡的理性的质疑。本文是对权衡理性的辩护。通过发现和证立隐藏在德国宪法诉讼中合比例审查背后的衡量公式,文章尝试证明权衡是理性的,原则理论就此有能力成为宪法权利的基础学说。     

美国宪法的政治解释

从政治因素入手剖析1787年美国宪法制订的历程,能够从本质上揭示独立后的美国联邦政府渴求联邦宪法的深层原因。尽管制宪会议争论非常激烈,方案的分歧也很明显,但克服联邦内部混乱,消除各自为政的政治局面,建立一种新的政治制度,确保国家政治稳定,成为制订联邦宪法的根本目的。