Constitutionalism and the Separation of Powers

Constitutionalism and the Separation of Powers
Author: M. J. C. Vile
Publisher:
Total Pages: 480
Release: 1998
Genre: History
ISBN:

Arguably no political principle has been more central than the separation of powers to the evolution of constitutional governance in Western democracies. In the definitive work on the subject, M. J. C. Vile traces the history of the doctrine from its rise during the English Civil War, through its development in the eighteenth century - when it was indispensable to the founders of the American republic - through subsequent political thought and constitution-making in Britain, France, and the United States. The author concludes with an examination of criticisms of the doctrine by both behavioralists and centralizers - and with "A Model of a Theory of Constitutionalism."

Constitutionalism and the Separation of Powers

Constitutionalism and the Separation of Powers
Author: M. J. C. Vile
Publisher:
Total Pages: 0
Release: 1998
Genre: History
ISBN: 9780865971752

Vile traces the history of the doctrine from its rise during the English Civil War, through its development in the eighteenth century -- through subsequent political thought and constitution-making in Britain, France, and the United States.

The Evolution of the Separation of Powers

The Evolution of the Separation of Powers
Author: David Bilchitz
Publisher: Edward Elgar Publishing
Total Pages: 277
Release:
Genre: Constitutional law
ISBN: 1785369776

To what extent should the doctrine of the separation of powers evolve in light of recent shifts in constitutional design and practice? Constitutions now often include newer forms of rights – such as socioeconomic and environmental rights – and are written with an explicitly transformative purpose. They also often reflect include new independent bodies such as human rights commissions and electoral tribunals whose position and function within the traditional structure is novel. The practice of the separation of powers has also changed, as the executive has tended to gain power and deliberative bodies like legislatures have often been thrown into a state of crisis. The chapters in this edited volume grapple with these shifts and the ways in which the doctrine of the separation of powers might respond to them. It also asks whether the shifts that are taking place are mostly a product of the constitutional systems of the global south, or instead reflect changes that run across most liberal democratic constitutional systems around the world.

The Principles of Constitutionalism

The Principles of Constitutionalism
Author: N. W. Barber
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 417
Release: 2018-07-25
Genre: Law
ISBN: 0192535684

In this follow-up volume to the critically acclaimed The Constitutional State, N. W. Barber explores how the principles of constitutionalism structure and influence successful states. Constitutionalism is not exclusively a mechanism to limit state powers. An attractive and satisfying account of constitutionalism, and, by derivation, of the state, can only be reached if the principles of constitutionalism are seen as interlocking parts of a broader doctrine. This holistic study of the relationship between the constitutional state and its central principles - sovereignty; the separation of powers; the rule of law; subsidiarity; democracy; and civil society - casts light on long-standing debates over the meaning and implications of constitutionalism. The book provides a concise introduction to constitutionalism and a detailed account of the nature and implications of each of the principles in question. It concludes with an examination of the importance of constitutional principles to the work of judges, legislators, and others involved in the operation and creation of the constitution. The book is essential reading for those seeking a definitive account of constitutionalism and its benefits.

The Rule of Law and the Separation of Powers

The Rule of Law and the Separation of Powers
Author: Richard Bellamy
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 1096
Release: 2017-07-05
Genre: History
ISBN: 1351540696

The rule of law is frequently invoked in political debate, yet rarely defined with any precision. Some employ it as a synonym for democracy, others for the subordination of the legislature to a written constitution and its judicial guardians. It has been seen as obedience to the duly-recognised government, a form of governing through formal and general rule-like laws and the rule of principle. Given this diversity of view, it is perhaps unsurprising that certain scholars have regarded the concept as no more than a self-congratulatory rhetorical device. This collection of eighteen key essays from jurists, political theorists and public law political scientists, aims to explore the role law plays in the political system. The introduction evaluates their arguments. The first eleven essays identify the standard features associated with the rule of law. These are held to derive less from any characteristics of law per se than from a style of legislating and judging that gives equal consideration to all citizens. The next seven essays then explore how different ways of separating and dispersing power contribute to this democratic style of rule by forcing politicians and judges alike to treat people as equals and regard none as above the law.

Separation of Powers in African Constitutionalism

Separation of Powers in African Constitutionalism
Author: Charles M. Fombad
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Total Pages: 444
Release: 2016-03-03
Genre: Law
ISBN: 0191077917

The new series Stellenbosch Handbooks in African Constitutional Law will engage with contemporary issues of constitutionalism in Africa, filling a notable gap in African comparative constitutional law. Separation of Powers in African Constitutionalism is the first in the series, examining one of the critical measures introduced by African constitutional designers in their attempts to entrench an ethos of constitutionalism on the continent. Taking a critical look at the different ways in which attempts have been made to separate the different branches of government, the Handbook examines the impact this is having on transparent and accountable governance. Beginning with an overview of constitutionalism in Africa and the different influences on modern African constitutional developments, it looks at the relationship between the legislature and the executive as well as the relationship between the judiciary and the political branches. Despite differences in approaches between the different constitutional cultures that have influenced developments in Africa, there remain common problems. One of these problems is the constant friction in the relationship between the three branches and the resurgent threats of authoritarianism which clearly suggest that there remain serious problems in both constitutional design and implementation. The book also studies the increasing role being played by independent constitutional institutions and how they complement the checks and balances associated with the traditional three branches of government.

The Power of Separation

The Power of Separation
Author: Jessica Korn
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 196
Release: 1998-03-29
Genre: Law
ISBN: 9780691058566

Author Jessica Korn challenges the notion that the 18th-century principles underlying the American separation of powers system are incompatible with the demands of 20th-century governance by questioning the dominant scholarship on the legislative veto. Korn's analysis shows that commentators have exaggerated the legislative veto's significance as a result of their incorrect assumption that the separation of powers was designed solely to check governmental authority.

Constitutional Landmarks

Constitutional Landmarks
Author: Charles M. Lamb
Publisher: Springer Nature
Total Pages: 296
Release: 2020-12-01
Genre: Political Science
ISBN: 3030555755

This book examines leading Supreme Court decisions involving the powers of the Court, the president, and Congress, as well as cases addressing American federalism and Americans’ economic rights. By analyzing both the Court’s opinions and voting patterns from 1791 through 2018, this volume presents an overview of the role of the Supreme Court in the legal and political system of the United States throughout its entire history, regularly relying on Robert McCloskey’s theory of the nation’s three major constitutional eras and the Supreme Court Database in its organizational approach. Over 100 of the Supreme Court's most significant rulings, old and new, are covered and clarified in this volume to provide an objective, reliable, and valuable resource for students, academics, legal professionals, and the general public alike.

The Power of Separation

The Power of Separation
Author: Jessica Korn
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Total Pages: 192
Release: 2020-10-06
Genre: Law
ISBN: 0691219346

Jessica Korn challenges the notion that the eighteenth-century principles underlying the American separation of powers system are incompatible with the demands of twentieth-century governance. She demostrates the continuing relevance of these principles by questioning the dominant scholarship on the legislative veto. As a short-cut through constitutional procedure invented in the 1930s and invalidated by the Supreme Court's Chadha decision in 1983, the legislative veto has long been presumed to have been a powerful mechanism of congressional oversight. Korn's analysis, however, shows that commentators have exaggerated the legislative veto's significance as a result of their incorrect assumption that the separation of powers was designed solely to check governmental authority. The Framers also designed constitutional structure to empower the new national government, institutionalizing a division of labor among the three branches in order to enhance the government's capacity. By examining the legislative vetoes governing the FTC, the Department of Education, and the president's authority to extend most-favored-nation trade status, Korn demonstrates how the powers that the Constitution grants to Congress made the legislative veto short-cut inconsequential to policymaking. These case studies also show that Chadha enhanced Congress's capacity to pass substantive laws while making it easier for Congress to preserve important discretionary powers in the executive branch. Thus, in debunking the myth of the legislative veto, Korn restores an appreciation of the enduring vitality of the American constitutional order.