Constitutionalism: Philosophical FoundationsLarry Alexander A distinguished international team of legal theorists examine the issue of constitutionalism and pose such foundational questions as Why have a constitution? How do we know what the constitution of a country really is? How should a constitution be interpreted? Why should one generation feel bound by the constitution of an earlier one?The volume will be of particular importance to those in philosophy, law, political science and international relations interested in whether and what kinds of constitutions should be adopted in countries without them, and involved in debates about constitutional interpretation. |
Contents
American Constitutionalism | 16 |
Constitutional Authorship | 64 |
What Is the Constitution? and Other Fundamental Questions | 99 |
On the Authority and Interpretation of Constitutions Some Preliminaries | 152 |
Legitimacy and Interpretation | 194 |
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Common terms and phrases
accept Ackerman adjudication American application argued argument authority Bill of Rights Bruce Ackerman claim commitment concerns Congress consent consti constitution-makers constitutional interpretation constitutional justice constitutional law constitutional norm constitutional practice constitutional rules constitutionalism decision democracy democratarian democratic disagreement doctrine domain of constitutional Dworkin enacted entrenched establish example fact Fourteenth Amendment framers freedom fundamental H. L. A. Hart indeterminate individual institutions intentions issue Jed Rubenfeld Jeremy Waldron John Rawls Jon Elster Joseph Raz judges judgment judicial review judiciary justice-seeking lawmaking legislative legislature legitimacy legitimate liberal limits majority matter meaning ment minimum welfare moral opportunity to thrive particular persons political community popular precommitment premise principles question reasons relevant requires right to minimum role Ronald Dworkin rule of recognition self-government sense social stitutional supra Supreme Court theory tion tional tutional understanding understood United United States Constitution