نوع مقاله : مقاله پژوهشی

نویسنده

دانشیار گروه حقوق عمومی، دانشکده علوم انسانی، دانشگاه بوعلی سینا، همدان، ایران

چکیده

قانون اساسی یکی از مهم‌ترین مفاهیم در دانش حقوق است. از این مفهوم برداشت‌های متعددی توسط اندیشمندان ارائه شده است. یکی از این برداشت‌ها فهم حقوقی از قانون اساسی است که طبق آن قانون اساسی متنی است که بالاترین سند در سلسله‌مراتب قوانین موجود در یک نظام حقوقی است و توسط نهاد دادرس اساسی از آن محافظت می‌شود. برداشت قانون اساسی سیاسی در مقام مخالفت با برداشت فوق، قانون اساسی را میدان منازعه بازیگران سیاسی می‌داند. این مقاله با استفاده از روش توصیفی و تحلیلی به دنبال پاسخ به این پرسش است که قانون اساسی سیاسی به چه معنایی است و از زمان پیدایش تا به امروز چه تحولاتی را گذرانده است؟ این مفهوم نخستین بار توسط جان گریفیث ارائه شد. اگرچه خطوط کلی این مفهوم توسط او مشخص گردید اما با انتقاداتی که بر این مفهوم وارد شد نسل‌های بعد از گریفیث در این مفهوم تغییراتی ایجاد کردند. قانون اساسی سیاسی کمک می‌کند از متن قانون اساسی فراتر رفته، به واقعیت دنیای سیاسی توجه بیشتری شود و به همه بازیگران عرصه سیاسی مجال حضور داده شود.

کلیدواژه‌ها

موضوعات

عنوان مقاله [English]

The Emergence and Development of the Concept of the Political Constitution

نویسنده [English]

  • Fardin Moradkhani

Associaet Professor, Public Law, Department of Law, Faculty of Humanities, Bu Ali Sina University, Hamadan, Iran

چکیده [English]

Introduction

Scholars have offered various interpretations of the constitution as one of the most important concepts in law. Understanding these perspectives can contribute to a better understanding of the constitution. One such interpretation is the legal conception, which considers the constitution as a text and the supreme document within the legal system, safeguarded by political or judicial authorities. In the legal conception, the role of the guardian of the constitution is especially significant, with the judiciary branch holding primary importance among the branches of power. In contrast, the political conception of the constitution sees it as a contested arena for political actors, aiming to unshackle it from the monopoly of judges and jurists. This perspective tends to emphasize not only the text of the constitution but also the existing reality and political climate.

Literature Review

There appears to be limited research in Persian that explores this concept in depth. However, the Persian translation of Martin Loughlin’s Public Law and Political Theory (1992) includes a brief discussion of Griffith and his association with the school of functionalism. Additionally, some relevant aspects of this discussion are covered in Law is Politics, a volume of articles compiled and translated into Persian by Habibollah Fazeli (2021).

Materials and Methods

The current study used the descriptive–analytical method to explore the meaning of the political constitution and examine the transformations it has undergone from its inception to the present day.

Results and Discussion

The study shed light on some of the foundational elements underlying the concept of the political constitution, including republicanism, conservatism, the leftist tradition, functionalism, and Dicey’s theories. It also examined why the concept first emerged in England. Given that the political constitution, like other concepts, is subject to change, the article finally explored its future trajectory and addressed criticisms. Every concept has a history and evolves over time through political, social, and economic developments—and the political constitution is no exception. This concept was first introduced by John Griffith, who argued for a strong link between politics and law, with the constitution as the focal point connecting these fields. Underscoring the significance of the political constitution in his writings, Griffith believed that political decisions should rest with political actors. According to Griffith, reducing political lawsuits to legal judgments actually shifts political decision-making from politicians to judges. Concerned with protecting the English legal system, Griffith opposed certain legal reforms proposed by some jurists, viewing them as potentially rendering the legal system meaningless. Although he outlined the main principles of the political constitution, later generations modified this conception in response to critiques. Figures like Richard Bellamy and Adam Tomkins sought to imbue the concept with a normative aspect, while later thinkers like Martin Loughlin redefined the political within the concept. The present research discussed these key developments in the concept of the political constitution, and delved into the foundational issues, such as its origin.

Conclusion

The political constitution encourages moving beyond the text of the constitution to consider the political reality and allow participation from all actors in the political arena. Although first introduced in England, this concept has also influenced the tradition in countries with written constitutions, prompting constitutional theorists to acknowledge factors beyond the text itself and to recognize the profound connection between law and politics. An accurate understanding of the constitution is incomplete without considering real-world political contexts. This discussion holds significant relevance for Iran’s constitutional law, which has been relatively limited theoretically. Greater engagement with constitutional law theories can expand the conception of the constitution to acknowledge new perspectives and approaches. The topics recently raised in Iran’s constitutional law (e.g., unwritten constitutional principles, constitutional procedures, and constitutional customs) need a theoretical foundation, and the concept of the political constitution provides a valuable basis for these discussions. Furthermore, exploring the connection between law and political science provides a critical theoretical framework that can support these ongoing discussions.

کلیدواژه‌ها [English]

  • Law
  • Politics
  • Political Constitution
  • Legal Constitution
  • Griffith
  • کتاب­ها

    - کندی، دانکن و دیگران، قانون سیاست است، ترجمه حبیب‌الله فاضلی (تهران: نگارستان اندیشه،1400).

     - لاگلین، مارتین، حقوق عمومی و نظریه سیاسی (تهران: انتشارات میزان، 1399).

     

     References

    Books

    • Allan, TRS, Constitutional Justice: A Liberal Theory of the Rule of Law (OUP Oxford, 2001).
    • Amery Amery, Thoughts on the Constitution (Oxford University Press, 1947).
    • Bellamy, Richard. Political Constitutionalism:A Republican Defense of the Constitutionality of Democracy (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2007).
    • Bradley, A.W & Ewing, K.D. Constitutional and Administrative Law (England: Pearson Education, 2007).
    • Bernard Crick, In Defence of Politics (‎University of Chicago Press 1962).
    • Dobner, Petra & Martin Loughlin, The Twilight of Constitutionalism? (Oxford University Press, 2010).
    • Dowdle, Michael & Micahel Wilkinson (eds) Questioning the Foundations of Public Law (Oxford: Hart Publishing, 2018).
    • Dworkin, Ronald, Taking Rights Seriously (London: Duckworth, 1977).
    • Dworkin, Ronald, Bill of Rights for Britain: Why British Liberty Needs Protection (London: Chatto Counterblasts, 1991).
    • Dyzenhaus, David & Poole, Tom (eds) Law, Liberty, and the State: Oakeshott, Hayek and Schmitt on the Rule of Law (Cambridge University Press, 2015).
    • Ely, John Hart, Democracy and Distrust: A Theory of Judicial Review (Harvard: Harvard University Press, 1980).
    • J.A.G, Parliamentary Scrutiny of Government Bills (London: Allen & Unwin, 1974).
    • J.A.G, The Politics of the Judiciary (Roermond: Fontana Press, 1977).
    • Hailsham Baron Quintin Hogg, The Dilemma of Democracy: Diagnosis and Prescription (London: Collins, 1978).
    • Harlow, Carol, “The Political Constitution Reworked”, in Rick Bigwood(ed), (2006), Public Interest Litigation: New Zealand Experience in International Perspective (Lexis Nexis: Wellington, 2006).
    • Hirschl, Ran, Towards Juristocracy: The Origins and Consequences of the New Constitutionalism (Harvard University Press, 2007).
    • Loughlin, Martin, Foundations of Public Law (Oxford University Press, 2010).
    • Loughlin, Martin, Political Jurisprudence (Oxford University Press, 2017).
    • Loughlin, Martin, “Nomos” in David Dyzenhaus, Tom Poole(eds), (2015), Law, Liberty, and the State: Oakeshott, Hayek and Schmitt on the Rule of Law (Cambridge University Press, 2015).
    • Nicol, Danny, The Constitutional Protection of Capitalism (Oxford: Hart Publishing, 2010).
    • Oakeshott, Michael, The Politics of Faith and the Politics of Scepticism (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1996).
    • Oakeshott, Michael, “Rationalism in Politics”, in: Rationalism in Politics and Other Essays (Revedn: Liberty Fund, 1991).
    • Pettit, Philip, Republicanism: A Theory of Freedom and Government (Oxford Uniersity Press, 1997).
    • Quinton, Anthony, The Politics of Imperfection: The Religious and Secular Traditions of Conservative Thought in England from Hooker to Oakeshott (London: Faber & Faber, 1978).
    • Sajó, András & Renáta Uitz, The Constitution of Freedom: An Introduction to Legal Constitutionalism (Oxford University Press, 2017).
    • English Law—The New Dimensions (London: Stevens, 1974).
    • Schupmann, Benjamin, The Constitutional and State Theory of Carl Schmitt (Oxford University Press, 2017).
    • Skinner, Quentin, Liberty before Liberalism (Cambridge University Press, 1998).
    • Gunther. Constitutional Fragments: Societal Constitutionalism and Globalizatio (Oxford University Press, 2012).
    • Tomkins, Adam, Our Republican Constitution (Oxford: Hart Publishing, 2005).
    • Tushnet, Mark, “Comparing Right-Wing and Left-Wing Populism”, In Mark A. Graber, Sanford Levinson, and Mark Tushnet, Constitutional Democracy in Crisis? (Oxford University Press, 2018).
    • Waldron, The Dignity of Legislation (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1999).
    • Waldron, Jeremy, “Arendt’s Constitutional Politics”, in Dana Villa(ed), (2006) The Cambridge Companion to Hannah Arendt (Cambridge University Press, 2006).
    • Waldron, Jeremy, Political Political Theory (Harvard University Press, 2011).

    Articles

    • Bernatt, Maciej & Michał Ziółkowski, “Statutory Anti-Constitutionalism”, Washington International Law Journal, Vol. 28, No. 2, (2019), Available at: https:// digitalcommons. law. uw. edu/ wilj, Vol. 28, Iss 2/9.
    • Bellamy, R. “Political Constitutionalism and the Human Rights Act”, International Journal of Constitutional Law, Vol. 9, Issue1, (2011).
    • Blokker, Paul “Varieties of Populist Constitutionalism: The Transnational Dimension”, German Law Journal, Vol. 20, Special Issue 3, (2019).
    • David, “The Difference that Law Makes”, The Modern Law Review, Vol. 60, No. 6 .(1997).
    • Ekins, Richard & Graham Gee, “Putting Judicial Power in its Place”, University of Queensland Law Journal, Vol. 36, (2017).
    • Ewing, Keith, “The Resilience of the Political Constitution”, German Law Journal, Vol. 14, No. 2, (2013).
    • Gee, G., “The Political Constitutionalism of JAG Griffith”, Legal Studies, 28, Issue1, (2008).
    • Gee, G, “The Political Constitution and the Political Right”, King's Law Journal, Vol. 30, No.1, (2019).
    • Gee, Graham & Grégoire Webber, “A Grammar of Public Law”, German Law Journal, Vol. 14, No. 12, (2013).
    • Gee,Graham & Grégoire Webber, “Rationalism in Public Law”, The Modern Law Review, Vol. 76, No. 4, (2013b).
    • Gee, Graham & Grégoire CN Webber, “A Conservative Disposition and Constitutional Change”, Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, forthcoming, 40, (2020).
    • Gee, Graham & Grégoire C. N. Webber, “What is a Political Constitution?”, Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, Vol. 30, No. 2, (2010).
    • Glencross, Andrew, “The Absence of Political Constitutionalism in the European Union”, Journal of European Public Policy, Vol. 21, No. 8, (2013).
    • Goldoni, Marcoi & Chris McCorkindale, “Three Waves of Political Constitutionalism”, King's Law Journal, Vol. 30, No. 1. (2019), Available in: https:// strathprints, strath. ac. uk/67478/1/ McCorkindale_Goldoni_KCLJ_2019_Three_waves_of_political.pdf.
    • Goldoni, M, “Two Internal Critiques of Political Constitutionalism”, International Journal of Constitutional Law, Vol. 10, No. 4, (2012).
    • Goldoni, M, “Political Constitutionalism and the Question of Constitution‐Making”, Ratio Juris, Vol. 27, No. 3, (2014).
    • Goldoni, M & McCorkindale, C, “A Note from the Editors: The State of the Political Constitution”, German Law Journal, Vol. 14, No. 12, (2013).
    • Goldoni, Marco, “Constitutional Reasoning According to Political Constitutionalism”, German Law Journal, Vol. 14, (2013).
    • Griffith, J.A.G, “The Brave New World of Sir John Laws”, The Modern Law Review, 63, No. 3, (2000).
    • Griffith, J.A.G, “Why We Need a Revolution”, Political Quarterly, 40, Issue 4, (1969).
    • J.A.G, “The Common Law and the Political Constitution, Law Quarterly Review, Vol. 117, (2001).
    • J.A.G, “The Political Constitution”, Modern Law Review, Vol. 42, No. 1, (1979).
    • Hall,Matthew, David Marsh & Emma Vines, “A Changing Democracy: Contemporary Challenges to the British Political Tradition, Policy Studies, Vol. 39, No. 4, (2018).
    • Kaidatzis, Akritas, “Populist Constitutionalism as a Critique on Liberal (or Legal) Constitutionalism”, Paper Submitted to the Workshop ‘New Constitutionalism? New forms of Democracy and Rule of Law beyond Liberalism’, International Institute for the Sociology of Law, Oñati, 12-13.7, (2018).
    • Loughlin, Martin, “John Griffith: ave atque vale”, Public Law, (2010b).
    • Loughlin, Martin, “The Functionalist Style in Public Law”, University of Toronto Law Journal, Vol. 55, (2005).
    • Minkinnen, Panu, “Political Constitutionalism Versus Political Constitutional Theory”, International Journal of Constitutional Law, Vol. 11, No. 3, (2013).
    • Pettit, Philip, “Keeping Republican Freedom Simple: On a Difference with Quentin Skinner”, Political Theory, Vol. 30, (2002).
    • Poole, Thomas, “Tilting at Windmills? Truth and Illusion in The Political Constitution”, The Modern Law Review, Vol. 70, No. 2. (2007).
    • Reed, “The Supreme Court Ten Years On”, at the Bentham Association Lecture (2019), available online at: https:// www. supremecourt. uk/ docs/ speech-190306.pdf.
    • Tomkins, Adam, “In Defence of the Political Constitution”, Oxford Journal of Legal Studies, Vol. 22, No. 1, (2002).
    • Tomkins, Adam, “What’s Left of the Political Constitution?”, German Law Journal, Vol. 14, No. 12, (2013).
    • Chambers, “Contract or Conversation? Theoretical Lessons from the Canadian Constitutional Crisis”, Politics & Society, Vol. 26, No. 1, (1998).
    • Urbinati, Nadia, “Democracy and Populism”, Constellations, Vol. 5, No. 1, (1998).
    • Wilkinson, Michael A, “Political Constitutionalism and the European Union”, The Modern Law Review, 76, No. 2, (2013).
    • Scott, Paul, “(Political) Constitutions and (Political) Constitutionalism”, German Law Journal, Vol. 14, No. 12, (2013).
    • Tierney, S, “Whose Political Constitution? Citizens and Referendums”, German Law Journal, Vol. 14, No. 12, (2013).