The real deal? The post-conflict constitution as a peace agreement

Abstract

When intra-state armed conflicts end through a negotiated settlement, the conflict parties frequently agree to amend or replace the country’s constitution. Their aim is to entrench the settlement, address the conflict incompatibility, reform institutions and take other measures to prevent a recurrence of violence. This article argues that post-conflict constitutions (PCCs) should be understood as peace agreements. It motivates this argument on conceptual, functional and legal grounds. It demonstrates that PCCs comply with conventional definitions of a peace agreement, are an intrinsic component of the conflict resolution process and have a range of peace maintenance functions. As supreme law, they become the definitive peace agreement. Research on peace durability following negotiated settlements should therefore focus not only on comprehensive peace agreements (CPAs) but also on PCCs. PCCs should be conceived not as mere components of CPA implementation but as substantive political and legal agreements in their own right and as independent causes of peace.     

Is it Population or Personnel? The Effects of Diversity on Immigration Policy Implementation by Sheriff Offices

Abstract

The federal-local cooperative immigration removal program Secure Communities (S-Comm) has resulted in wide variation into how aggressively national interior immigration policy has been implemented locally. Some communities have removed thousands, but others have removed few if any. Community composition explains much of the variation, but representative bureaucracy tells us agency diversity also influences implementation. Focusing on county sheriff offices, a vital local partner in S-Comm, this study finds that agency personnel diversity (specifically, offices with larger percentages of Hispanics and African Americans) produce fewer removals and submissions to ICE for immigration background checks. Other agency-specific factors are also important. Both the agency’s total budget and whether it has a 287(g) agreement with federal immigration authorities increase removals. Despite recent efforts to blur the distinction between immigration and criminal justice policy, this study finds no relationship between local removals and local crime.     

发展战略的成功实施取决于相应的干部考核制度——对我国成功实施计划生育基本国策的一种解读

文章通过对计划生育基本国策实施阶段的具体分析,得出了计划生育基本国策成功实施的启示,即发展战略的成功实施取决于相应干部考核制度;并结合国内外发展战略成功实施的范例和我国科教兴国战略的实施现状,进一步阐明了发展战略的成功实施取决于相应的干部考核制度这一观点.     

论检察改革的实施依据与发动方式

依法制统一原则要求 ,检察改革必须依法或者依执政党的政策或者依高检规定进行 ,检察改革必须统一部署。而当前检察改革依内部规定进行 ,并由地方各级和专门检察院自己发动的做法 ,是不妥的     

"落实"问题是党和政府亟待解决的重要课题

再好的决策 ,如果得不到落实 ,对改革开放和现代化建设是没有任何意义的。围绕解决落实问题 ,我们必须更新思维方式 ,改进工作作风和方法 ,努力提高落实的能力和水平     

宪法价值分析

宪法价值可以分为内在价值、工具性价值与作为评价标准的价值三个层次,分别体现宪法价值的神圣性与世俗化,并从中引申出宪法价值的中立性。宪法价值的三层次在程序正当设计中体现,并通过宪法实施而得到实现。     

论行政紧急权力的宪政基础及其规制——从“巴黎骚乱事件”说起

行政紧急权力是国家紧急权力中的重要部分,是紧急状态法制的核心问题。为了更好地进行紧急状态立法,需要对行政紧急权力的宪政基础、宪法规范、宪法性质及宪政规制做深入研究。行政紧急权力在宪政上是必要的,但其性质不应具有“超宪性”,其宪法规范依据需要进一步健全和完善。对行政紧急权力需要立法和司法方面的宪政规制,特别是来自司法审查的制约。     

骑士、侠客与法文化

宪法变迁的过程也是宪政秩序的塑造过程 ,需要妥善处理好宪法的权威性、稳定性和适应性之间的关系。宪法变迁主要有三种方式 :宪法修改、解释和宪法惯例。每一种方式对于维护宪法的权威性、稳定性和适应性都有利有弊。宪政秩序的塑造不能仅仅依靠一种变迁方式 ,而需要三种方式相互补足的综合性变迁模式。     

对改进现场勘查课教学的几点思考

现场勘查是侦查程序中的一项重要侦查行为,现场勘查课在整个刑事侦查学课程体系中具有举足轻重的作用。现场勘查课教学方法的实施与能否培养出全面发展的高素质人才密切相关。文章论述了目前现场勘查课教学实施过程中存在的弊端,并提出现场勘查课应当注重知识、技能和能力的协调发展,要善于培养学生的非智力因素,并提出体现上述教学特点的具体实施方法。     

Reviews

Books reviewed:
Foster, The Ethics of Medical Research on Humans
Vidmar, World Jury Systems
Simpson, Human Rights and the End of Empire. Britain and the Genesis of the European Convention
Carty, An Analysis of the Economic Torts
Wright, Tort Law & Human Rights