Constitutional Review in Europe

1. Auflage 2013
ISBN: 978-1-84946-385-0
Verlag: Hart Publishing

Buch, Englisch, 556 Seiten, Hardback, Format (B × H): 182 mm x 252 mm, Gewicht: 1084 g

Constitutions serve to delineate state powers and enshrine basic rights. Such matters are hardly uncontroversial, but perhaps even more controversial are the questions of who (should) uphold(s) the Constitution and how constitutional review is organised. These two questions are the subject of this book by Maartje de Visser, which offers a comprehensive, comparative analysis of how 11 representative European countries answer these questions, as well as a critical appraisal of the EU legal order in light of these national experiences. Where possible, the book endeavours to identify Europe's common and diverse constitutional traditions of constitutional review.
The raison d'être, jurisdiction and composition of constitutional courts are explored and so too are core features of the constitutional adjudicatory process. Yet, this book also deliberately draws attention to the role of non-judicial actors in upholding the Constitution, as well as the complex interplay amongst constitutional courts and other actors at the national and European level. The Member States featured are: Belgium, the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Hungary, the Netherlands, Spain, Poland, and the United Kingdom.
This book is intended for practitioners, academics and students with an interest in (European) constitutional law.

Zielgruppe

Scholars, Students and Practitioners interested in Constitutional Law, Constitutional Reform and Comparative Law

Autoren/Hrsg.

De Visser, Maartje

Fachgebiete

• Rechtswissenschaften Recht, Rechtswissenschaft Allgemein Rechtsvergleichung
• Rechtswissenschaften Recht, Rechtswissenschaft Allgemein Recht mehrerer Jurisdiktionen, Synopsen
• Rechtswissenschaften Öffentliches Recht Staats- und Verfassungsrecht Verfassungsprozessrecht
• Rechtswissenschaften Öffentliches Recht Staats- und Verfassungsrecht Verfassungsgeschichte, Verfassungsvergleichung

Inhaltsverzeichnis

Introduction
Introductory Definitions: Constitutional Interpretation and Constitutional Review
Background: The Need for a Perspective Combining National and European Constitutional Law
Objectives
Method
Terminology
Structure
Chapter 1
The Role of Non-Judicial Actors in Upholding the Constitution
I. Introduction
II. Councils of State and Chancellors of Justice
III. Parliament and its Committees
IV. Heads of State
V. The People
VI. Concluding Remarks
Chapter 2
The Rise of Constitutional Adjudication
I. Introduction
II. The Notion of 'Constitutional Jurisdiction'
III. Exploring the Reasons behind the Rise of Constitutional Adjudication
IV. Bucking the Trend? A Closer Look at the Approaches of the Netherlands and the United Kingdom
V. Concluding Remarks and Some Brief Reflections on the Two European Courts
Chapter 3
Purposes of Constitutional Adjudication and Access to Constitutional Courts
I. Introduction
II. The Institutional Design of Constitutional Adjudication
III. Four Purposes that May be Served by Constitutional Adjudication
IV. Final Comparative Remarks and Reflections on the Court of Justice
Chapter 4
The Constitutional Bench
I. Introduction
II. Selection and Appointment Procedures
III. Number of Judges and Eligibility Criteria
IV. Tenure of Judicial Appointments and Termination Thereof
V. Final Comparative Remarks and Reflections on the Court of Justice
Chapter 5
Identifying the Sources of Standards for Constitutional Review
I. Introduction
II. Belgium: Cour constitutionnelle
III. Czech Republic: Ustavni Soud
IV. Germany: Bundesverfassungsgericht
V. France: Conseil constitutionnel
VI. Hungary: Alkotmanybirosag
VII. Italy: Corte costituzionale
VIII. Poland: Trybunal Konstytucyjny
IX. Spain: Tribunal Constitucional
X. The Netherlands: Raad van State
XI. United Kingdom: House of Lords Constitution Committee
XII. Finland: Perustuslakivaliokunta
XIII. European Union: Court of Justice
XIV. Comparative Remarks
Chapter 6
Testing and Remedying Unconstitutionality
I. Introduction
II. Deference Rhetoric
III. Theory of the Living Law
IV. Constitution-Conform Interpretation
V. Types of Judgment and their Effects
VI. Concluding Remarks
Chapter 7
Interplay between Constitutional Courts and Other Actors
I. Introduction
II. Interactions between Constitutional Courts and (Constitutional) Legislatures
III. Interactions between Constitutional Courts and the Ordinary Courts
IV. Interactions among European Constitutional Courts
V. Interactions between Constitutional Courts and the Court of Justice
VI. Interactions between National Highest and Constitutional Courts and the European Court of Human Rights
VII. Concluding Remarks

Über Autor(innen)

De Visser, Maartje
Maartje De Visser is Assistant Professor of Law at the Singapore Management University.

Maartje de Visser is an Assistant Professor of Law at the Singapore Management University. Prior to this, she held appointments at Maastricht University and Tilburg Law School in the Netherlands. This book is the culmination of research carried out between 2008 and 2013 when Maartje was a member of the European and National Constitutional Law (EuNaCon) Project, funded by the European Research Council (ERC).