Constitutional Dismemberment in Latin America

Revista Derecho del Estado N° 52, Mayo - Agosto de 2022

37 Pages Posted: 10 May 2022

See all articles by Richard Albert

Richard Albert

University of Texas at Austin - School of Law; University of Texas at Austin - Department of Government; Université Paris II - Panthéon-Assas; Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo; Universidad Externado de Colombia - Facultad de Derecho; São Paulo Law School of Fundação Getulio Vargas FGV DIREITO SP; University of Toronto - Faculty of Law; University of Ottawa - Faculty of Law; Reichman University - Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliyah - Harry Radziner School of Law; Airlangga University; Yale University; Maharashtra National Law University Mumbai

Juliano Benvindo

University of Brasilia

Milton Jimenez

University of Caldas

Cristiã¡n Villalonga Torrijo

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile

Multiple version iconThere are 2 versions of this paper

Date Written: May 4, 2022

Abstract

Some constitutional changes are constitutional amendments in name alone. These unusual constitutional changes dismantle the basic structure of the constitution while at the same time building a new foundation rooted in principles contrary to the old. They are self-conscious efforts to repudiate the essential characteristics of the constitution and to destroy its foundations. We should not understand changes on this scale as mere amendments. They are better understood as constitutional dismemberments. These constitutional changes disassemble one or more of the constitution’s elemental parts by altering a fundamental right, a load-bearing structural design, or a core aspect of the identity of the constitution. In this article, we draw from three jurisdictions in Latin America—Brazil, Chile, and Colombia—to illustrate this phenomenon, to expose its variations, and to suggest that it entails serious implications.

Keywords: Constitutional amendment, constitutional dismemberment, constitutional amendment procedures, Latin American constitutional change, Brazilian Constitution, Chilean Constitution, Colombian Constitution

Suggested Citation

Albert, Richard and Benvindo, Juliano and Jiménez Ramírez, Milton César and Villalonga Torrijo, Cristiã¡n, Constitutional Dismemberment in Latin America (May 4, 2022). Revista Derecho del Estado N° 52, Mayo - Agosto de 2022, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4100552

Richard Albert (Contact Author)

University of Texas at Austin - School of Law ( email )

727 East Dean Keeton Street
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HOME PAGE: http://law.utexas.edu/faculty/richard-albert

University of Texas at Austin - Department of Government ( email )

College of Liberal Arts
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Université Paris II - Panthéon-Assas ( email )

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France

Universidad de Especialidades Espíritu Santo ( email )

Facultad de Derecho
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Ecuador

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Universidad Externado de Colombia - Facultad de Derecho

Calle 12 # 1-17 este
Calle 12 0 83
Bogota D.C, Cundinamarca 3456
Colombia

HOME PAGE: http://www.uexternado.edu.co/derecho

São Paulo Law School of Fundação Getulio Vargas FGV DIREITO SP

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São Paulo, 01330-000
Brazil

HOME PAGE: http://direitosp.fgv.br

University of Toronto - Faculty of Law ( email )

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Reichman University - Interdisciplinary Center (IDC) Herzliyah - Harry Radziner School of Law ( email )

P.O. Box 167
Herzliya, 46150
Israel

HOME PAGE: http://www.idc.ac.il/en/schools/law/pages/home.aspx

Airlangga University

Dharmawangsa Dalam Selatan
Surabaya, East Java 60286
Indonesia

HOME PAGE: http://www.unair.ac.id

Yale University

493 College St
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United States

Maharashtra National Law University Mumbai ( email )

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Hiranandani Gardens, Powai, Mumbai 400076
Maharashtra
India

HOME PAGE: http://mnlumumbai.edu.in/vaf.php

Juliano Benvindo

University of Brasilia ( email )

Campus Universitário Darcy Ribeiro
Asa Norte
Brasília-DF, Distrito Federal 70910-900
Brazil
+55(61)3107-0713/3107-0724 (Phone)
+55(61)3107-0710/3107-0714 (Fax)

HOME PAGE: http://goo.gl/MHARjp

Milton César Jiménez Ramírez

University of Caldas ( email )

Colombia

Cristiã¡n Villalonga Torrijo

Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile ( email )

Av Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins 340
Santiago, Región Metropolitana 8331150
Chile

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