The Place of the Constitution in the Modern State

Abstract

Ever since the American and the French revolutions, it was taken for granted that a written, formal, Constitution was essential to the functioning of a modern State. Old-established States, as they moved toward modernization or away from absolutism, hurried to provide themselves with Constitutions. New States enacted Constitutions as a matter of course, as one of the first acts of a newly-found sovereignty, often copying them from available models and without pausing to consider to what extent the provisions copied would suit the particular characteristics and goals of their respective societies. The well-known process of “reception” of laws was followed by a similar trend to “receive” Constitutions. To have a formal Constitution well-nigh became a universal fashion, a symbol of modernism. In the aftermath of the First World War, only two groups of fully independent States remained without Constitutions. One of them comprised countries still in their pre-modern stage, in respect both of their political and of their general social set-up, and without pretensions to modernity: Afghanistan, Ethiopia (then Abyssinia), Saudi Arabia, Thailand (then Siam), Yemen; since then, each of these, bent on modernization, provided itself with some kind of constitutional chart. The other group consisted of the one and only Great Britain, looked upon by everybody as a case apart.

The Development of the President's Authorities in the Egyptian Constitutions

“…Members of the Nation Assembly also enjoyed parliamentary immunity for the duration of their election23, which is five years24. 12 Article 50 from the Egyptian Constitution 1923 and 1930: "Before the King exercises his constitutional powers, he shall take the following oath before the assembly of both chambers: I swear by Almighty God to respect the Constitution and the Egyptian nation's laws and preserve the homeland's independence, unity, and territorial integrity". 13 Jill Harries, Ibid, 21.…”

“…11 Article 85 from the Egyptian Constitution 1971. 12 Article 140 from the Egyptian Constitution 2014. 13 Articles 146 and 147 from the Egyptian Constitution 2014.…”

Constitutions, Political Culture and “The Spirit of Haida Gwaii”

“…Tam da bu nedenle, farklı etnokültürel yapıları barındıran toplumların, kültürel farklılaşmayı bertaraf etme amacını güden, tek ve sabit bir bakış açısı ve dışlayıcı bir tutumla değil; olası değişikliklere uyum sağlayabilecek bir anayasa anlayışıyla değerlendirilmesi doğru olacaktır. Eğer bir anayasa, toplumun düşünsel olarak kolayca bölünebileceği, ayrışmaların söz konusu olduğu konularda kapsayıcı olmayan hükümler içeriyorsa, tartışmalı ve kolay kırılabilen bir 42 GÖNENÇ, Levent: "Anayasal Değişim", Ankara Üniversitesi Hukuk Fakültesi Dergisi, 62 metin haline gelmesi de kaçınılmaz olacaktır 47 . Bunun sonucunda, anayasal değerlere yönelik tartışmaların yoğunluğu ve yaygınlığı da artacağından; yalnızca anayasanın değil, demokratik sistemin kırılganlığı da katmerlenmiş olacaktır.…”