Constitutionalism

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The term Constitutionalism refers to the position or practice that government be limited by a constitution, usually written. The document may specify its relation to statutes, treaties, executive and judicial actions, and the constitutions or laws of regional jurisdictions. The term may also refer to a movement or effort to enforce such a legal order, usually called constitutional compliance. Constitutionalism is also concerned with the principles of constitutional design, which includes the principle that the field of public action be partitioned between delegated powers to the government and the rights of individuals, each of which is a restriction of the other, and that no powers be delegated that are beyond the competence of government.

Examples

United States

In the United States, a constitutionalist is a term referring to someone who advocates strict adherence to the U.S. Constitution, and the term is often synonymous with originalism. Constitutionalists are also called constitutional conservatives in the United States.

United Kingdom

Constitutionalist was also a label used by some Independent candidates in UK general elections in the early 1920s. Most of the candidates were former Liberal Party members, and many of them joined the Conservative Party soon after being elected. The best known Constitutionalist candidate was Winston Churchill in the 1924 UK general election. (See the Constitution of the United Kingdom.)

Dominican Republic

After the democratically elected government of president Juan Bosch in the Dominican Republic was deposed, the Constitutionalist movement was born in the country. As opposed to said movement, the Anticonstitutionalist movement was also born. Juan Bosch had to depart to Puerto Rico after he was deposed. His first leader was Colonel Rafael Tomás Fernández Domínguez, and he wanted Bosch to come back to power once again. Colonel Fernández Domínguez was exiled to Puerto Rico where Bosch was. The Constitutionalists had a new leader: Colonel Francisco Alberto Caamaño Deñó.

Other countries

In 1820 Constitutionalist revolutions occurred in Portugal and the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. In 1906, constitutionalism was introduced in Iran.

External links and references

The US Constitution in basic English for those with a limited understanding of English
Latter-day Conservative
Center For The Constitution (Montpelier.org)
"The Old School Conservatives" A group that advocates pure constitutionalism in the U.S.
The American Freedom Agenda The creators of a constitutionalist "Freedom Pledge" for Presidential candidates.