Constitutional Handcuffs

This article makes three contributions to the literature on constitutional change. First, it reinforces the theoretical foundations of constitutional entrenchment by defining the spectrum of constitutional permanence. Second, it offers an original taxonomy of entrenchment clauses, including preserva...

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Main Author: Richard Albert
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tübingen University 2017-06-01
Series:Intergenerational Justice Review
Online Access:https://igjr.org/ojs/index.php/igjr/article/view/585
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author Richard Albert
author_facet Richard Albert
author_sort Richard Albert
collection DOAJ
description This article makes three contributions to the literature on constitutional change. First, it reinforces the theoretical foundations of constitutional entrenchment by defining the spectrum of constitutional permanence. Second, it offers an original taxonomy of entrenchment clauses, including preservative, transformational and reconciliatory entrenchment. Third, in concluding that absolute entrenchment undermines the participatory values that give constitutionalism its meaning, it proposes an alternative to entrenchment: the entrenchment simulator. Whereas entrenchment clauses prohibit constitutional amendment, the entrenchment simulator provides a promising alternative that both embraces the expressive function of entrenchment and remains consistent with the promise of constitutionalism.
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spelling doaj-art-0b4d303a6ed64c9c9828d3623d037e042025-02-10T05:00:32ZengTübingen UniversityIntergenerational Justice Review2190-63352017-06-0131Constitutional HandcuffsRichard Albert0Boston College Law SchoolThis article makes three contributions to the literature on constitutional change. First, it reinforces the theoretical foundations of constitutional entrenchment by defining the spectrum of constitutional permanence. Second, it offers an original taxonomy of entrenchment clauses, including preservative, transformational and reconciliatory entrenchment. Third, in concluding that absolute entrenchment undermines the participatory values that give constitutionalism its meaning, it proposes an alternative to entrenchment: the entrenchment simulator. Whereas entrenchment clauses prohibit constitutional amendment, the entrenchment simulator provides a promising alternative that both embraces the expressive function of entrenchment and remains consistent with the promise of constitutionalism.https://igjr.org/ojs/index.php/igjr/article/view/585
spellingShingle Richard Albert
Constitutional Handcuffs
Intergenerational Justice Review
title Constitutional Handcuffs
title_full Constitutional Handcuffs
title_fullStr Constitutional Handcuffs
title_full_unstemmed Constitutional Handcuffs
title_short Constitutional Handcuffs
title_sort constitutional handcuffs
url https://igjr.org/ojs/index.php/igjr/article/view/585
work_keys_str_mv AT richardalbert constitutionalhandcuffs