中立的,还是全面的?——一个关于宪法性质的理论

Neutral,or Total?A Theory of the Nature of Constitutional Law

宪法全面主义认为,宪法是全面的客观价值体系,要通过公权机关的行为积极地从实体上来塑造和决定其他一切法和一切社会关系。宪法全面主义取缔了宪法与其他一切法、社会系统间的边界,把宪法当成了实在规范的唯一来源:它不仅伤害宪法,也伤害其他法,伤害自由和多元的社会秩序。宪法因此变成了包治百病的万灵药,宪法理论变成了百科全书式的正义理论。宪法是且仅是构造和规范最高权之法,它是具有一系列独特属性的规范体系。这种可以称为是“中立宪法”的宪法观主张有限的法律宪法主义,其至少有四个维度。法律之维强调宪法的法律性、相对于日常政治的超越性。道德之维强调它的正当性在于对基础性自由的肯认。政治之维强调要把宪法根本之外的其他问题交给民主政治过程来解决。文化之维强调它的效力取决于对宪法的崇尚是否成为社群意识形态的一部分。

Constitutional totalism argues that constitutional law is the comprehensive order of objective values,which determines and shapes proactively and substantively all other laws and social relationships by means of the actions of public authorities.Taking constitutional law as the only source of all positive norms,constitutional totalism erases the boundaries between the constitution on the one hand,and other laws and social systems on the other:it harms constitution law itself,other laws,and a liberal and plural social order.Constitutional law hence becomes a panacea,and constitutional theory an encyclopaedical theory of justice.This article argues against constitutional totalism,and as follows.Constitutional law is,and is only,a system of the norms constituting and controlling supreme powers of a political community.Its nature has at least four dimensions:it is law,higher than ordinary politics;its legitimacy consists in its enshrinement of foundational liberties;it leaves to democratic process issues outside constitutional essentials;its validity depends upon its incorporation into the ideology of the political community in question.In contrast to constitutional totalism,we argue for limited legal constitutionalism.