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Summary introduction to law
Summary study book Introduction to Law of Hage, Jaap - ISBN: 9783319572512, Edition: 2nd ed. 2017, Year of publication: - (Best notes possible)
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Comparative GovernmentChapter 1 – Introduc5on to compara5ve cons5tu5onal law
INTRODUCTION
4 Basic ques+ons in Cons+tu+onal Law
1. Does ins*tu*on x have power y?
2. Is the exercise of the power granted within the limits defined by law?
3. Is the power and its exercise in conformity with other rules of the cons*tu*onal system?
4. Who has the power to supervise the exercise of powers by others in case of non-compliance of
nullifying illegal exercise?
Why compara*ve cons*tu*onal law?
-understand na*onal systems
-material for cons*tu*onal building and engineering
-crea*on for interna*onal organisa*ons
(CJEU and the ECHR rely on compara*ve cons*tu*onal law to develop case law, CJEU refers to
cons*tu*onal tradi*ons common to the member states when establishing general principles of EU
law, ECHR seeks to iden*fy common ground between the contrac*ng states in interpre*ng the
meaning of certain provisions of the European Conven*on of Human Rights)
Cons*tu*ons in western contexts:
-set up and maintain an effec*ve state
-establish and respect democracy
-abide the rule of law
-> must be balanced
Other features:
-judicial review
-elec*on system
-electable offices
-accountability mechanisms
-role and oversight and powers of parliament and execu*ve
THE MEANING OF A CONTSITUTION
What is a cons*tu*on?
- Narrow/ formal meaning: central wriTen document which sets out basic rules that apply to
the government of states (social-poli*cal en**es). The document is called cons*tu*on or
basic law or charter.
- Broad/ substan<ve meaning: comprises the en*re body of fundamental rules that govern the
state (socio-poli*cal en*ty) in a central document or many documents, wriTen down or
customary rules. Substan*vely:
o ATributes power to public authori*es
o Regulates the fundamental rela*ons between public authori*es
o Regulates the fundamental rela*ons between public authori*es and the individual
o -> a@ribute power and regulate its exercise
, - Ins<tu<onal Law: governs way how the states and its ins*tu*ons func*on (terms and powers
of parliament, vo*ng systems…)
- Human Rights: protect ci*zens against the state, regulates rela*ons between public
authori*es and the individual
- Cons*tu*ons do not have to be consolidated (e.g. Israel, UK) and exist of case law, secondary
legisla*on, learned wri*ngs, natural law, statutes, customs, acts of parliament, unwriTen law,
conven*ons, trea*es, and gentleman’s agreements
➔ Cons*tu*ons o\en have a deeper social significance; break with the past (independence…),
seTlement of conflict, strengthen na*onal iden*ty,
➔ Dis*nc*on between wri@en cons*tu*on (black-leTer law, only poli*cal ins*tu*ons and courts) and
working cons*tu*on (also media, churches, unions and poli*cal situa*on of a country).
Limited government
- Exercise of public power is governed by a cons*tu*on and rule of law
- Called => cons<tu<onalism. Opposite of absolu*sm.
EU-Cons*tu*on?
- No, only the TEU and the TFEU
THE FLEXIBILITY OF CONSTITUTIONS
Rigid cons*tu*ons (entrenchment)
➔ Hard-to-amend rigid cons*tu*ons
- Typical amendment procedures for rigid/ entrenched cons*tu*ons:
o Super-majority in parliament (DE, Portugal)
o Two parliamentary readings of the amendment with elec*ons in-between (NL,
Sweden)
o Ra*fica*on of amendment in the sub-units (US, India, EU)
o Referendum (FR, Australia)
Some parts of basic law are non-amendable (DE Human rights Art.79) (FR republican character of its
government).
Rigidity refers to the procedure (makes amendments difficult) and scope limits the subjects that can be
amended) of a possible amendment.
Principle of unanimity= consent of all cons*tuent par*es (Art. 48 TEU)
Flexible cons*tu*ons
Not hard to amend. (e.g. UK. Since no central document exists, simple ordinary legisla*ve processes/
customs/ case law is sufficient)
Flexibility refers to formal amendment requirements.
Substan<ve rigidity/ flexibility= depends on whether the text is accepted as meaning what it says in a
narrow sense or if it is perceived as “living document” and changes with society (changing customs,
working cons*tu*on).
Cons*tu*onal interpreta*on
Power of interpreta*on by judges/ courts play a role in determining the substan*ve flexibility of a
cons*tu*onal text.
(R)evolu*onary cons*tu*ons
Adop*on of new cons*tu*on marks new beginning of society -> revolu<onary cons<tu<on
,➔ Adopted during “cons*tu*onal moment” (*me in which the old is replaced by a new)
➔ Independence, regained statehood, republicanism, democracy a\er dictatorship…
Cons*tu*on that develops gradually over *me -> evolu<onary cons<tu<on
➔ E.g. UK.
TERMINOLOGY
State= public authority (synonymously used with government).
1) State as in sovereign country (socio-poli*cal en*ty with own sets of government ins*tu*ons
exercising control over its popula*on and territory.
2) State as in federal en*ty (countries with federal structure, sub-en**es = states)
Country= informal synonym for “state”. In UK: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland are
“countries of the UK” In Kingdom of the Netherlands: NL, Aruba, Curacao, Saint Mar*n.
Na<ons= ethnic cultural category. equa*ng state and na*on -> na*onalism
Government= cabinet or execu*ve/ administra*on.
1) Government as in state order (all organs of public authority)
2) Government as in execu*ve (head of gov. and body of ministers or secretaries. Aka cabinet or
administra*on in the US
3) Government as is governing majority in parliamentary democracies
Republic=
1) system of government;
No monarch as head of state, opposite of monarchy -> republicanism -> bar reintroduc*on of
monarchy.
2) name of the state which has adopted this system; e.g. French Republic
3) period of *me when the state was governed by this system.,. Res publica= common affairs /
good (e.g. Rome, France)
Monarchy= absolute monarchy (Va*can, Swaziland, Brunei, Saudi Arabia)
Cons+tu+onal monarchy (power of monarch limited by cons*tu*on; NL; LUX)
Not always hereditary, some*mes elected (Holy Roman empire, Malaysia, Va*can)
Democracy= Western cons*tu*onal systems are democracies.
Indirect democracy= aka representa*ve democracy. People itself do not govern but voted for
representa*ves. Ci*zens may exercise right to vote for their legislature and other public authori*es;
public authori*es are accountable to elected assemblies; elec*ons take place on regular basis (possible
to remove office holders)
UK-> House of Commons
DE-> Bundestag
NL-> Second Chamber
FR-> Na+onal Assembly and the President
USA-> House of Representa+ves, Senate, President
, Direct democracy= electorate itself decides specific issues through popular vote (referendum)
State power is exercised by representa*ves and referenda in France. Exercised through elec*ons and
votes in Germany
Durable Democracy= fixed rules that bind gov. peaceful and stable transi*on of power. Popula*on
allowed to cri*cise, and vote rascals out. Vulnerable to authoritarian movements. Outlaw
uncons*tu*onal par*es
Poli<cal Par<es= found in many cons*tu*onal systems, also in one-party systems (China), or in
dictatorships. Intermediaries between ci*zens and voters and the ins*tu*on of the state. Select
candidates for elec*ons and public office. Offer plaporm for ci*zens to voice convic*ons, debates and
discussion, dra\ a poli*cal programme, generate public interest and par*cipa*on.
Protected by poli*cal rights and freedom rights (right to vote, freedom of associa*on and assembly, right
to free speech)
Chapter 2 – Cons5tu5ons compared: Origins and main features
NOTION OF SOVEREIGNTY
Cons*tu*ons derive their authority from the sovereign (original source from which all public power)
Popular sovereignty= aka sovereignty of the people. cons*tu*on derives claim to authority from having
……………………………. been enacted by the people. Endorsed by republican democracies. Sovereign
……………………………. popula*on is able to execute will by referendum to change cons*tu*on.
➔ philosophical or moral claim to sovereignty
➔ ul*mate power to exercise authority
o Internal sovereignty (who is the official source of public authority within a state, who can
govern?)
o External sovereignty (exercise control over its popula*on and territory without outside
interference, 1648 Peace of Westphalia)
Royal Sovereignty= claim to sovereignty expressed by monarchs. Monarch is source of all public
……………………………. authority. O\en coupled by religious claim: sovereign “by the grace of god”
➔ Cons*tu*ons octroyées or imposed cons*tu*on = monarch remains sovereign, grants ci*zens a
cons*tu*on. Limits and direct the use of power by public authority, since cons*tu*on derived its
authority from the monarch, it can be changed/ repealed any*me.
➔ In modern monarchies: personal powers have faded, and became purely ceremonial.
Na+onal Sovereignty= aka sovereignty of the na*on.
……………………………. Na*on as philosophical principle-> not current popula<on
……………………………. Na*on can’t act on its own, only by na*on’s representa*ves. (e.g. Belgium)
➔ Jus*fies to exclude binding referenda
State Sovereignty= individual states claim sovereignty. Powers not delegated to federal level are
……………………………. sovereign powers of the individual states
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