TWO CONCEPTS OF CONSTITUTIONAL LEGITIMACY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25192/issn.1982-0496.rdfd%20v28i22609Abstract
What legitimizes constitutions? A standard answer is that constitutions are legitimate only if they represent the governing people. This article identifies two different conceptions of representation. Representation can be based on the consent or will of the citizens or when the constitution reflects the “real” identity of the nation's members. Alternatively, the constitution is sometimes claimed to be legitimate because it promotes justice or, more generally, is founded on reason. While constitutions are typically founded on both claims to represent the people and claims regarding the fairness and wisdom of constitutional provisions, we have established that there are two types of constitutions: constitutions that are primarily representative (e.g., the U.S. Constitution) and constitutions that are primarily based on reason (e.g. the German Constitution). We also show that this distinction has important ramifications for how constitutions are written and ratified and how they operate. A central implication is that the legitimacy of constitutions that make the weak claims to representation – for example, constitutions that are imposed by foreign powers – can still be defended on the basis of reason.
Key-words:. constitution; constitutional legitimacy; German constitution; ratification; constitutions based on reason; representation; representative constitutions; United States Constitution.
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