Indonesia Constitutional Court Constitutional Interpretation Methodology (2003-2008)
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31078/consrev111Keywords:
Constitutional Interpretation, Judicial Review, Constitutional Court, ConstitutionAbstract
Nine Indonesian Constitutional Justices have the authority to annul a law drafted by 550 Parliament members and the President. The Constitutional Court of the Republic of Indonesia (“the Court”), particularly in deciding cases of judicial review, has the capability to declare words, sentences, paragraphs, articles or the law unconstitutional. Consequently, it is essential for the Court to take into account legal arguments. The fundamental element of these legal arguments is constitutional interpretation, which serves as a parameter in determining constitutionality of the laws. However, in exercising its authority, the Court needs to interpret the Constitution as a basis for deciding a case. The standards for determining the constitutionality of a law must be the text of the Constitution, not what the judges would prefer the Constitution to mean. Constitutional supremacy necessarily assumes that a superior rule is what the Constitution says it is, not what the judges prefer it to be. [Craig R. Ducat: E3]. The Court period 2003–2008 were the Court’s the formative years, and as such are important to understand the methodology and interpretative approaches adopted by the Court. Many observers of the Court’s early decisions are still unsure of the overarching approach and methodology adopted by the Court. Thus, there is a need for a close analysis and criticism of the Court’s early decisions to determine which methods and approaches it has adopted and whether these are appropriate in the Indonesian context. The Court has openly referred to the experiences of foreign jurisdiction in constitutional law, and therefore it would be appropriate to analyze the court’s decisions in a broader comparative context of constitutional interpretative approaches from around the world.References
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Ball, Terrence, 1992, Constitutional Interpretation and Conceptual Change ‘ in Gregory Leyh (ed), Legal Hermenutics: History, Theory, and Practice, University of California Press.
Barber, Sotirios A. and James E. Fleming, 2007, Constitutional Interpretation : The Basic Question, Oxford Universtiy Press, Inc.
Butt, Simon, ‘The Constitutional Court’s Decision in the Dispute between the Supreme Court and the Judicial Commission : Banishing Judicial Accountability?’ (2009) 09(31) Legal Studies Research Paper.
Butt, Simon, Judicial Review in Indonesia: Between Civil Law and Accountability? A Study of Constitutonal Court Decision (PhD Thesis, University of Melbourne, 2006)
Dahl, Robert A, 2001, How Democratic is the American Constitution?
Dworkin, Ronald, 1977, Taking Rights Seriously, Harvard Universty Press. Ginsburg, Tom, ‘Economic Analysis and the Design of Constitutional Courts’
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Goldsworthy, Jeffrey, 2006, Interpreting Constitutions: A Comparative Study, Oxford University Press.
Harding, Andrew; Peter Leyland, 2009, The Constitutional Court of Thailand and Indonesia : Two Case Studies From South East Asia in Andrew; Peter Leyland Harding (ed), Constitutonal Court: A Comparative Study, JCLStudies in Comparative Law, Windy, Simmonds & Hill Publishing.
Harman, Benny, Perkembangan Pemikiran Mengenai Perlunya Pengujian UU Terhadap UUD Dalam Sejarah Ketatanegaraan Indonesia (1945-2004) (The Development of Legal Thought on the Judicial Review Act of Parliament Against the Constituton in the Indonesia Constitutional History) (PhD Thesis, University of Indonesia, 2006)
Harun, Refly, ‘Hakim Konstitusi Kelas Dua (Second Class Justices)’, Koran Tempo (Jakarta), 22 August 2003 2006
Hendrianto, From Humble Beginnings to a Functioning Court: The Indonesian Constitutional Cout, 2003-2008 (PhD Thesis, University of Washington 2008)
Heryanto, Ariel, 2006, State Terorism and Political Identity in Indonesia: Fatally Belonging, Routledge
Indrayana, Denny, 2008, Indonesian Constitutional Reform 1999 - 2002 : An Evaluation of Constitution-Making In Transition, Kompas Book Publishing.
Jackson, Vicki C and Jamal Greene, 2011, Constitutional Interpretation in Comparative Perspective: Comparing Judges or Court?’ in Thomas and Rosalind Dixon Ginsburg (ed), Comparative Constitutional Law, Research Handbook in Comparative Law, Edward Elgar Publishing, Inc.
Kommers, Donald P, 2006, Germany: Balancing Rights and Duties ‘ in Gregory Leyh (ed), Legal Hermenutics: History, Theory, and Practice, University of California Press.
Limbach, Jutta, The Concept of the Supremeacy of the Constitution, (2000) 64 (21 January) Modern Law Review
MD, Mahfud, The Role of the Constitutional Court in the Development of Democracy in Indonesia, (Paper presented at the World Conference on Constitutional Justice Cape Town 2009)
Perry, Michael J, 1988, Morality, Politics, and Law : a Bicentennial Essay, Oxford Universtiy Press.
Perry, Michael J, 2006, Why Constitutional Theory Matters to Constitutional Practice (And Vice Versa) in Gregory Leyh (ed), Legal Hermenutics: History, Theory, and Practice, University of California Press.
Posner, Richard A, ‘What Has the Pragmatism to Offer Law’ (1990) (63) Southern Law California Law Review
Siahaan, Maruarar, Pelaksanaan Putusan Mahkamah Konstitusi (The Implementation of Constitutional Court Decision) (PhD Thesis, Dissertation Thesis, University of Diponegoro, 2010)
Stockmann, Petra, 2007, The New Indonesian Constitutional Court: A Study into its Beginnings and First Years of Work, Hans Seidel Foundation.
Tushnet, Mark V, ‘Does Constitutional Theory Matter?: A Comment’ (1986 - 1987) 65(4) Texas Law Review 777
Zoelva, Hamdan, ‘Hubungan Mahkamah Konstitusi dengan Lembaga Negara Lainnya (Constitutional Court and relate State Institution)’ (2006) (January - March ) Jentera Jurnal Hukum.
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Published
2016-03-28
How to Cite
Siregar, F. E. (2016). Indonesia Constitutional Court Constitutional Interpretation Methodology (2003-2008). Constitutional Review, 1(1), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.31078/consrev111
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