中国宪法惯例问题辨析

中国是具有宪法典的国家,而没有所谓的不成文宪法。中国的宪法惯例必须紧紧围绕和依赖宪法规范才能存在和发展,如果主要的宪法规范都无法实施,宪法惯例一说就大为可疑,因为惯例是规范的"润滑剂"而非"溶化剂"。在这个意义上,宪法惯例和政治惯例不可混为一谈。至于中国宪法的实施途径,首要在于宪法的法律化和违宪审查机制的建立,那些零星、有争议的宪法惯例是无法独当宪政建设之重任的。宪法惯例的不恰当泛化,已构成对宪法规范性的直接挑战,因而有必要重申宪法的规范性。总之,寻求对中国宪法实施问题的解释,最紧要的不是去寻找和确认业已存在哪些宪法惯例,而是要去追问和探求是否存在宪法惯例发展的土壤和机制。

Examination of Chinese Constitutional Practice

Since In China a codified Constitution operates rather than unwritten constitutional law,survival and growth of constitutional practice here is thus necessarily connected with and dependent on constitution norms,without enforcement of which,constitutional practice doctrines would be unpractical for as to norms,practice is but lubricating rather than solving element.In this sense,one can never confuse constitutional practice with political one.To implement constitution,China should at first place emphasis on legalizing constitution and judicial review of legislation while sporadic and contentious constitutional practice is not of vital significance for polity.Of course,normalization of constitution may be directly impaired by pervasiveness of inadequate constitutional practice and thus should be stressed again.Anyhow,while implementing constitution in China,the most urgent thing for us is to see whether here exists the institution and opportunity for living and development of constitutional practice rather than seek for or ascertain what practice has been set up.