Book contents
- Deciphering the Genome of Constitutionalism
- Comparative Constitutional Law and Policy
- Deciphering the Genome of Constitutionalism
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Part I Foundations, Theory, and Concepts
- Part II Comparative Perspectives
- Part III American Constitutionalism and Constitutional Identity
- 14 “This Is (Not) Who We Are”
- 15 Constitutional Aspirationalism Revisited
- 16 The Constitution at War with Itself
- 17 Constitutional Identity, Constitutional Politics, and Constitutional Revolutions
- 18 American Constitutional Exceptionalism, Constitutional Identity, and Democracy
- Part IV Emerging Trends
- Index
- References
17 - Constitutional Identity, Constitutional Politics, and Constitutional Revolutions
from Part III - American Constitutionalism and Constitutional Identity
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 14 March 2024
- Deciphering the Genome of Constitutionalism
- Comparative Constitutional Law and Policy
- Deciphering the Genome of Constitutionalism
- Copyright page
- Contents
- Figures
- Contributors
- Preface
- Acknowledgments
- Introduction
- Part I Foundations, Theory, and Concepts
- Part II Comparative Perspectives
- Part III American Constitutionalism and Constitutional Identity
- 14 “This Is (Not) Who We Are”
- 15 Constitutional Aspirationalism Revisited
- 16 The Constitution at War with Itself
- 17 Constitutional Identity, Constitutional Politics, and Constitutional Revolutions
- 18 American Constitutional Exceptionalism, Constitutional Identity, and Democracy
- Part IV Emerging Trends
- Index
- References
Summary
This essay explores different relationships between constitutional identity and constitutional politics. One purpose is descriptive. The first five sections briefly discuss the five relationships between constitutional identity and constitutional politics. Constitutional politics may be an instrumental means for achieving a particular constitutional identity; the means designed to achieve a particular constitutional identity; constitutive of constitutional identity; the constitutionally prescribed means for achieving a constitutional identity; or the constitutionally prescribed means for achieving any constitutional identity. The more fundamental goal is to undermine the “apple of gold” metaphor as a device for thinking about constitutional regimes. Constitutional politics in most constitutional regimes is as constitutive of constitutional identity as the substantive principles announced in such documents as the Declaration of Independence.
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- Deciphering the Genome of ConstitutionalismThe Foundations and Future of Constitutional Identity, pp. 216 - 228Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2024