Participatory constitution-making and why it matters: A review of the Egyptian experience

This article considers the making of Egypt's post-Mubarak constitution after considering the fact that participatory constitution-making is accepted as a democratic norm allowing citizens to be involved in the creation of their constitution and their future. The author argues that the process by which a constitution is made is crucial for the framing and legitimising of that constitution. Therefore, political elites and state institutions should not wholly control the process. The views of two schools of thought – idealism and realism – are considered. These views, together with the influence of the state and the concept of participation of the citizenry in the constitution-making process, are measured against international law requirements and further applied in a critical evaluation of Egypt's constitution-making process from 2011 to 2014.     

宪法诉讼的宪政价值初探

宪法诉讼制度是近代宪政理念及其制度建构发展到一定阶段的产物,并且自其产生以来就在整个宪法监督体系中发挥了不可取代的作用。宪法诉讼的价值是多元的,在宪法诉讼的价值体系中,宪政价值无疑具有最为重要的地位。宪法诉讼作为宪法的免疫器和宪政的守护神,对一国的宪政建设无疑具有首要的意义,即"无诉讼则无宪政"。     

Power of the law or power of the sword: the conflictive relationship between the executive and the legislative in nineteenth-century Peru

ABSTRACT

The Peruvian parliament was a central institution in the early republic, but so far very little has been written on its history. This is due to the fact that military leaders took control of power for most of the nineteenth century. This article reflects on three main questions: what was the role of the legislative in nineteenth-century Peru? What was its relationship with the executive power? And what part did conflict play in these relationships? Most initial congresses were tasked with writing up constitutions, because institutions had to be created, and there was a strong belief that having a written charter mattered. The strongmen who took power felt the need to obtain legitimacy from both constitutions, and elections, but often did not see eye to eye with congress. This led congress to be closed, particularly when legislators refused to bow down to presidential power.     

日本舆论监督的法律边界

舆论监督是世界各国宪法普遍保障的一项基本权利。日本法院在舆论监督的两大法律限制——事前限制与国家秘密,从原则上确认了表达自由和新闻监督的重要意义。但是在“《北方杂志》事件”和“家永教科书”等具体判例中,仍然采取相当谨慎的立场,政府在限制新闻出版过程中可以依据相当宽泛的公共利益行使自由裁量。     

当下中国宪法司法化的路径与方法

法院适用法律必须解释法律,而解释法律又必须进行合宪解释,合宪解释是目前我国宪法在司法中适用的最好方式,是现行体制下我国宪法司法化的最佳路径。各级人民法院在民事、刑事和行政诉讼中审理每一起案件适用法律时都应当考虑到宪法,进行合宪解释。每一位法官都是合宪解释的主体,都享有法律解释权和宪法解释权,但这并不否定最高人民法院的最高司法解释权以及全国人大常委会对法律和宪法的最终解释权。法院通过合宪解释方式间接适用宪法,不必将宪法作为裁判依据而引用,但应当在裁判说理部分引用宪法条款。法院在合宪解释过程中发现法律明显违宪时,应当中止诉讼,逐级上报,由最高人民法院报送全国人大常委会处理。     

无诉讼即无宪政

宪法之生命在于宪政 ,而宪政之精髓则在于法治 ,惟法治之精神方可葆宪政生命之树长青。宪法诉讼既是宪政法治存在的基本标志 ,也是宪政法治实现的必要条件 ,因此说 ,没有宪法诉讼 ,就没有宪政。     

学术自由:侵权与救济

学术自由侵权与其他侵权行为具有共性,但与一般侵权行为相比,行为的主观方面和行为后果不是认定学术自由侵权的必备要素。从学术自由权成立的正当性出发,有三类限制或禁止学术自由的行为是应予允许的。在现代社会中,按照在实践中得到运用的广泛程度和实际效果,最重要的学术自由权救济机制包括宪法救济、一般诉讼救济以及通过结社进行的自力救济。     

税收法定主义原则与政府税收立法权的界定

税收法定主义原则是税法的首要原则。根据这一原则,税收要素、税收程序基本方面的立法权都应由议会机关保留。政府部门只有对税收程序中的具体问题制定行政法规的权力。即使在授权立法的情况下,对政府部门的授权也只能针对个别、具体的事项。     

安全抑或自由: 危机中的美国宪法简

危机时刻是验证法治国家体制适应性的真正时机,由于美国宪法没有紧急状态条款,在南北内战、一战二战、反恐战争等紧急时期美国总统往往行使“超宪法权限”侵犯公民基本权利。为保证危机中的宪法依然有效,处理好国会立法与总统紧急权力之间的重大分歧,作为制衡者的法院需要对宪法进行更加审慎的解释,但其所表现出来的实用主义政治立场变换和共和紧急法制观的转型,揭示了非常态下美国宪法解释的核心问题：要自由的宪法还是安全的宪法？这也正是当下危机频发背景下每个奉行法治和保障人权的国家面临的共同难题。     

香港特别行政区的宪制基础

我国宪法和香港特别行政区基本法共同构成香港特别行政区的宪制基础。宪法规范彼此间的形式冲突不足以否认宪法在香港特别行政区的适用,香港特别行政区基本法不足以结构性取代宪法在香港特别行政区的适用。宪法中关涉社会主义制度的内容不适用于香港特别行政区,凝聚和承载着一国精神的内容在香港特别行政区具有适用性。厘定宪法适用于香港特别行政区的内容时应秉持一国的原则。占中公投既违反香港特别行政区基本法,也违反宪法。