Legitimate Intergenerational Constitutionalism

Journal article | Zeitschriftenartikel

This paper examines the legitimacy conditions of constitutionalism by examining one particular type of constitutional provision: provisions aimed at advancing future generations' interests. After covering the main forms that such provisions can adopt, it first considers three legitimacy gains of constitutionalising them. It then explores two legitimacy concerns that so doing raises. Given that constitutions are difficult to amend, constitutionalisation may threaten future generations' sovereignty. And it may also make the constitution's content impossible to adapt to changing circumstances and interests. Finally, the paper examines the ways in which such concerns may be addressed at the adoption, formulation, and amendment stages. In particular, it discusses if the use of sunset clauses and regular constitutional conventions may, and under what conditions, successfully address such concerns.

Object Details

• ISSN: 2190-6335
• Extent: Seite(n): 40-48
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Status: Veröffentlichungsversion; begutachtet (peer reviewed)

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: Intergenerational Justice Review, 2(2)

Classification and Topics

• Subject: Staatsformen und Regierungssysteme ; Politikwissenschaft ; Staat, staatliche Organisationsformen ; politische Willensbildung, politische Soziologie, politische Kultur ; institutionelle Faktoren ; Verfassung ; Legitimität ; politische Institution ; Konstitutionalismus ; Gerechtigkeit ; Gemeinwohl ; Generationenverhältnis

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): González-Ricoy, Iñigo
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Deutschland
• (when): 2016

Further information

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.24357/igjr.9.2.547
• URN: urn:nbn:de:0168-ssoar-49941-3
• Rights: GESIS - Leibniz-Institut für Sozialwissenschaften. Bibliothek Köln
• Last update: 21.06.2024, 4:27 PM CEST