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Comparative Law Review

Constitutional Courts and Representative Democracy – a Kelsenian Perspective
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Constitutional Courts and Representative Democracy – a Kelsenian Perspective

Authors

  • Anna Tarnowska Nicolaus Copernicus University https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9058-0672
  • Wojciech Włoch Nicolaus Copernicus University https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0807-5130

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.12775/CLR.2019.010

Keywords

representative democracy, constitutional court, Kelsenian models, control of delegated law-making power, Polish constitutions

Abstract

In the presented article we develop the thesis that constitutional courts may be treated as one of the key elements guaranteeing the proper functioning of representative democracy if they secure the democratic “chain of delegation”. Following the theory of Hans Kelsen, we employ a normative concept giving the answer to how a constitutional court should act to fulfil such a role. According to Kelsen’s perspective, the main threat to representative democracy is the “alternative legislative procedure”, a non-constitutional form of legislation based solely on the political will and in consequence deconstructing the constitutional chain of delegation. The guarantee of constitutionality means the restoration of an equal representation in the legislative procedure based on the majorityminority rule. As the guardian of the democratic legislative procedure, the constitutional court should be a ground for the “virtual representation” of all the parties to a democratic dispute. In result it prevents the transformation of representative democracy into majority democracy.

Author Biographies

Anna Tarnowska, Nicolaus Copernicus University

Assistant Professor at the Department of History of Legal and Political Thought and German Law, Nicolaus Copernicus University. ORCID: 0000-0002-9058-0672.

Wojciech Włoch, Nicolaus Copernicus University

Assistant Professor at the Department of the Constitutional Law, Nicolaus Copernicus University, ORCID: 0000-0003-0807-5130.

CLR vol 25 (2019) Cover

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Published

2019-12-30

How to Cite

1.
TARNOWSKA, Anna and WŁOCH, Wojciech. Constitutional Courts and Representative Democracy – a Kelsenian Perspective. Comparative Law Review. Online. 30 December 2019. Vol. 25, pp. 277-297. [Accessed 21 June 2025]. DOI 10.12775/CLR.2019.010.
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Issue

Vol. 25 (2019)

Section

ARTICLES AND SHORTER NOTES

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