國立臺灣大學政治科學論叢

Abstract / Chinese PDF Download

This  study  offers  an  institutional  and  comparative  analysis  of  the mechanisms   of   constitutional   amendment.   It   is   composed   of   eight sections. The first section examines the emergence and the development of the notions, as well as the institutional arrangements, related to constitutional amendment.  The  second  section  analyzes  the  nature  of  the  amending power,   and   the   principles   that   a   workable   amendment   mechanism generally  would  follow.  The  third  section  presents  a  typology  of  the amendment mechanisms that appeared in modern democratic constitutions. The fourth section distinguishes the structural features characterizing the various types of amendment mechanisms. The fifth section compares the natures  of  partial  amendment  and  total  revision  of  the  constitutions,  and the  differences  between  them.  The  sixth  section  further  considers  the sequence of stages of the amending process, and the related problems that have to be dealt with in each stages. And the last section is a conclusion which  integrates  the  issues  already  discussed  from  a  systemic  and theoretical perspective. By   presenting   a   comprehensive   analysis   of   the   institutional experiences of the constitutional amendments, up to the 90s, it is my hope that  the  study  would  further  our  understandings  of  one  essential  and important   aspect   of   constitutional   rule,   as   well   as   its   change   and development.