Book contents
- The Cambridge Handbook of Constitutional Theory
- The Cambridge Handbook of Constitutional Theory
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Contributors
- Frontispiece
- Preface and Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- Part I Values
- Part II Modalities
- Part III Institutions
- Part III. A The State
- Part III. B The Executive
- Part III. C The Democratic System
- Part III D The Legal System
- 48 Constitutional Courts and Supreme Courts
- 49 Judicial Independence
- 50 Bills of Rights
- 51 Administrative Law
- 52 Horizontal Effect
- Part III E The Global System
- Part IV Challenges for Constitutional Democracy
- Bibliography
- Index
- References
50 - Bills of Rights
from Part III D - The Legal System
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 27 March 2025
- The Cambridge Handbook of Constitutional Theory
- The Cambridge Handbook of Constitutional Theory
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Contributors
- Frontispiece
- Preface and Acknowledgements
- 1 Introduction
- Part I Values
- Part II Modalities
- Part III Institutions
- Part III. A The State
- Part III. B The Executive
- Part III. C The Democratic System
- Part III D The Legal System
- 48 Constitutional Courts and Supreme Courts
- 49 Judicial Independence
- 50 Bills of Rights
- 51 Administrative Law
- 52 Horizontal Effect
- Part III E The Global System
- Part IV Challenges for Constitutional Democracy
- Bibliography
- Index
- References
Summary
This chapter focuses not on the possible content of a Bill of Rights, such as whether it should contain social and economic rights or only civil and political rights, but on the form any such Bill needs to take to be legitimate in a manner congruent with the moral norms of equal concern and respect underlying both rights and democracy. It explores four conceptions of Bills of Rights and the different ways they relate to democratic theory and practice. I start with the view of a Bill of Rights as distinct from normal legislation and that is ultimately the responsibility of the courts to defend. I distinguish between substantive and procedural accounts, in which the first focuses on upholding the rights necessary to ensure the outputs of democratic decisions reflect democratic norms whereas the second seeks to uphold the rights required for a due democratic process. I then turn to legislated rights and the role of Parliamentary Bills of Rights. Finally, I examine the role of democratic constitutional politics as a means for justifying and legitimising such rights instruments, be they upheld by legislatures or courts.
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- Information
- The Cambridge Handbook of Constitutional Theory , pp. 884 - 901Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2025