Constitutional Review in Europe and in the United States: Influences, Paradoxes, and Convergence

COMPARING DEMOCRACIES, M. Fantoni, L. Morlino, eds., Forthcoming

Sydney Law School Research Paper No. 11/15

20 Pages Posted: 4 Feb 2011 Last revised: 10 Feb 2011

See all articles by Wojciech Sadurski

Wojciech Sadurski

The University of Sydney - Faculty of Law

Date Written: February 2, 2011

Abstract

In this paper, prepared as chapter for a book on comparisons of the American and European approaches to democracy, I provide an account of different US and continental-European constitutional trajectories focusing on the contrasts, similarities and paradoxes which emerge when reflecting upon the American and the European models of constitutional review. I begin by outlining the main ways in which American constitutionalism affected the evolution of European approaches to the role of constitutions in the legal system; I will then provide a highly stylized account of two contrasting models of constitutional review: he European “continental” model and the US model; I also note some striking paradoxes which emerge when reflecting upon these models, and also attempt to provide some explanations (if not “solutions”) to these paradoxes. Finally, I will show some important ways in which the two models converge.

Keywords: Comparative Constitutional Law, Constitutional Courts, Judicial Review, Bills of Rights

JEL Classification: K10, K30

Suggested Citation

Sadurski, Wojciech, Constitutional Review in Europe and in the United States: Influences, Paradoxes, and Convergence (February 2, 2011). COMPARING DEMOCRACIES, M. Fantoni, L. Morlino, eds., Forthcoming, Sydney Law School Research Paper No. 11/15, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1754209

Wojciech Sadurski (Contact Author)

The University of Sydney - Faculty of Law ( email )

New Law Building, F10
The University of Sydney
Sydney, NSW 2006
Australia

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