Constitutions as Chains? On the Intergenerational Challenges of Constitution-Making

Journal article | Zeitschriftenartikel

In this essay, I explore the ambiguity of the competition's title "Constitutions as Chains", and distinguish between two intergenerational challenges in constitution-making: the challenge of intergenerationally just constitutional provisions, and the challenge of creating a stable institution which is accepted by successive generations. I prioritise the latter. After contrasting classic ideas of Burke and Paine, I discuss different ways of addressing the challenge, such as the amendability of a constitution, eternity clauses or recurring constitutional assemblies. A flexible approach towards existing constitutional provisions, which is open to future developments, gets the nod. However, a need for empirical research remains.

Object Details

• ISSN: 2190-6335
• Extent: Seite(n): 32-41
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Status: Veröffentlichungsversion; begutachtet (peer reviewed)

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Intergenerational Justice Review, 3(1)

Classification and Topics

• Subject: Staatsformen und Regierungssysteme ; Recht ; Staat, staatliche Organisationsformen ; Recht ; Bundesrepublik Deutschland ; Verfassung ; Generationenvertrag ; Verfassungsänderung ; Verfassungsrecht ; Konstitutionalismus ; Gerechtigkeit ; Grundgesetz ; Verfassungsgebung ; Generationenverhältnis

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Chatziathanasiou, Konstantin
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Deutschland
• (when): 2017

Further information

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.24357/igjr.10.1.584
• URN: urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-52489-0
• Rights: GESIS - Leibniz-Institut für Sozialwissenschaften. Bibliothek Köln
• Last update: 21.06.2024, 4:26 PM CEST