Thomas Fleiner: Class No. 13 - 14

Criteria to evaluateGovernmental Systems

Belgrade Law FacultyMaster Course on

Comparative Constitutional Review

Prof. Lidija Basta FleinerProf. Thomas Fleiner

November 23 to December 12 2009

Issues:

1 Democracy

2 Rule of Law

3 Human Rights

4 Problems of Constitutions

5 Conclusion Criteria

Democracy

Of the people – by the people – for the people

Why D

em

ocr

acy

?Liberty- Self-Determination

Finding the Truth

Rational Conflict Management

Efficiency Majority

Participation - Legitimacy

Accountability

Limit Governmental Power

Democracy, Legitimacyand: …...

Efficiency

FragmentedNations

Transition

Globalization

Equality

Liberty

Rule of Law

Tyranny of theMajority

Transparency

Typ

es

of

Dem

ocr

acy

Procedural Substantial

Direct Represen-tative

Semi-direct

Winnertakes all

Consociacional Democracy

Party SystemElectoral SystemSeparation of PowersInformation and MediaAccountabilityParticipationCapacity to deliverEffective administration

Democracy:Of the peopleBy the peopleFor the people

DecentralizationLocal GovernanceMinoritiesFiscal GovernanceCollective RightsMinimize CorruptionCooperation

Problems ofDemocracy

LobbiesPrinciple

Of Oligarchie

Corruption Public InterestEconomy

ExclusionForeigners Minorities

Volonté Générale v.Volonté de Tous

Media

RepresentativeDemocracy

Representation Constituency

Pluralism of Parties

The whole peopleVolonté Générale

Higher being

Volonté de TousInterests

Electoral System

People

55%

Parliament

Executive

Ele

ctio

ns

45%

Parties inGovernment

Semi-directDemocracy

Parliament

Parties

Economy

People:Elects and

decides

Executive

Admini-stration

VolontéGénérale?

Separation of Powers

Division of Labour

Separation of Powers

Checks and Balances

New ChallengesMediaTerrorismGlobalizationMigration

Limits of Sovereignty Bonhams CaseIndependence of JudiciaryImpartiality of JudgesProfessionalism of Judicial SystemAccess to JusticeFairness of procedureAdversary – inquisitory procedureJury - TrialRight to defenseTimeMediator - Ombudsperson

Rule of LawThat men are ruled by law an not by men

Justice must be seen to be done

Constitutional CatalogueRestrictionEmergencyReference to international lawFairness in ProcedureSubstantive due ProcessConstitutional – Administrative review(access to justice)

Human RightsGolden Rule: Just as you want

others to do for you, do the same for them;no discrimination

Human DignityExpressionInformationReligionPropertyAssemblyInformationFour freedomsEconomic andSocial Rights: Educa-tion, health, labor, housing

Main Problems ofConstitutions

Judicial Independence and access to justice

Vagueness - implementation

Consistency

Decentralization

Transparency

Corruption

Accountability

Human Rights – restrictions - emergency

Constitutional Amendments and Revision

Constitutional review

Referendum

Conclusions

Criteria

Input - output

Minorities

Tra

nsp

are

ncy

Acco

unta

-bility

ParticipationCapacity to Learn

Legi

timac

y

Rule of Law

Efficiency

Minimalis

e Hum

an

Failu

res