État légal: Difference between revisions
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{{short description|Theory of law}} |
{{short description|Theory of law}} |
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The '''''état légal''''' ("English: "legal state"), also called "legicentric state",<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Favoreu|first=Louis|date=November 1997|title=Légalité et constitutionnalité|url=https://www.conseil-constitutionnel.fr/nouveaux-cahiers-du-conseil-constitutionnel/legalite-et-constitutionnalite|journal=Cahiers du Conseil constitutionnel|volume=3|pages=73|via=}}</ref> is a [[doctrine]] in [[Continental Europe|continental European]] legal thinking, originated in French constitutional studies. Contrary to both the |
The '''''état légal''''' ("English: "legal state"), also called "legicentric state",<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Favoreu|first=Louis|date=November 1997|title=Légalité et constitutionnalité|url=https://www.conseil-constitutionnel.fr/nouveaux-cahiers-du-conseil-constitutionnel/legalite-et-constitutionnalite|journal=Cahiers du Conseil constitutionnel|volume=3|pages=73|via=}}</ref> is a [[doctrine]] in [[Continental Europe|continental European]] legal thinking, originated in French constitutional studies. Contrary to both the [[police state]] where the making and the application of law is arbitrary, unequally applied, and outside non-state control, and the ''[[Rechtsstaat]]'' in which constitutional rights are viewed as preceding and superseding the authority of the law, the ''état légal'' is a form of [[rule of law]] where the law is decided and applied equally and for every individual ''as it is'', that is to say without or with reduced constitutional limits to the will of the law-maker. In a democratic state, the ''état légal'' gives absolute primacy to the decision of the majority, often to the detriment of the rights of minorities.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":1" /><ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.liberation.fr/debats/2016/08/17/mon-plaidoyer-pour-l-etat-de-droit_1473037|title=Mon plaidoyer pour l'état de droit|last=Rousseau|first=Dominique|date=2016-08-17|website=Libération|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2019-09-09}}</ref> As defined by constitutional jurist Dominique Rousseau, the ''état légal'' "subjects the executive power, administration and justice to the rule of law passed by Parliament, a rule which, as the expression of the [[general will]], is indisputable and cannot therefore be judged."<ref name=":2" /> |
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== Concept == |
== Concept == |
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The concept of ''état'' ''légal'' was theorized by [[Raymond Carré de Malberg]] in his 1920 book ''Contribution à la théorie générale de l'État''. He distinguished three different forms of states: the [[police state]], in which the power acts freely in an arbitrary way; the "state of rights" (''état de droit'' or ''[[Rechtsstaat]]''), where the power is limited by constitutional rights; and the "legal state" (''état légal''), a [[rule of law]] which |
The concept of ''état'' ''légal'' was theorized by [[Raymond Carré de Malberg]] in his 1920 book ''Contribution à la théorie générale de l'État''. He distinguished three different forms of states: the [[police state]], in which the power acts freely in an arbitrary way; the "state of rights" (''état de droit'' or ''[[Rechtsstaat]]''), where the power is limited by constitutional rights; and the "legal state" (''état légal''), a [[rule of law]] which gives primacy to the authority of the law over constitutional rights. In a democratic state, where the power is entrusted to the people, often via [[universal suffrage]], the difference between the ''état légal'' and the ''Rechtsstaat'' has a significant consequence: in the first situation, the decision of the majority is set in law ''as decided'', and thereafter applied by the state; while in the ''Rechsstaat'', the state (or the majority) is limited in the nature of the laws it is able introduce by a set of fundamental rights to protect the minorities (i.e., the American [[List of amendments to the United States Constitution|constitutional amendments]], or the German [[Fundamental rights in the German Constitution|constitutional fundamental rights]]).<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal|last=Mockle|first=Daniel|date=|title=L'État de droit et la théorie de la rule of law|url=|journal=Les Cahiers de droit|volume=35|pages=823-904|doi=10.7202/043305ar|via=}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=Questions de démocratie|last=Février|first=Jean-Marc|publisher=Presses universitaires du Mirail|year=2000|isbn=2-85816-531-9|location=|pages=422}}</ref> |
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== References == |
== References == |
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Revision as of 07:16, 9 September 2019
The état légal ("English: "legal state"), also called "legicentric state",[1] is a doctrine in continental European legal thinking, originated in French constitutional studies. Contrary to both the police state where the making and the application of law is arbitrary, unequally applied, and outside non-state control, and the Rechtsstaat in which constitutional rights are viewed as preceding and superseding the authority of the law, the état légal is a form of rule of law where the law is decided and applied equally and for every individual as it is, that is to say without or with reduced constitutional limits to the will of the law-maker. In a democratic state, the état légal gives absolute primacy to the decision of the majority, often to the detriment of the rights of minorities.[2][3][4] As defined by constitutional jurist Dominique Rousseau, the état légal "subjects the executive power, administration and justice to the rule of law passed by Parliament, a rule which, as the expression of the general will, is indisputable and cannot therefore be judged."[4]
Concept
The concept of état légal was theorized by Raymond Carré de Malberg in his 1920 book Contribution à la théorie générale de l'État. He distinguished three different forms of states: the police state, in which the power acts freely in an arbitrary way; the "state of rights" (état de droit or Rechtsstaat), where the power is limited by constitutional rights; and the "legal state" (état légal), a rule of law which gives primacy to the authority of the law over constitutional rights. In a democratic state, where the power is entrusted to the people, often via universal suffrage, the difference between the état légal and the Rechtsstaat has a significant consequence: in the first situation, the decision of the majority is set in law as decided, and thereafter applied by the state; while in the Rechsstaat, the state (or the majority) is limited in the nature of the laws it is able introduce by a set of fundamental rights to protect the minorities (i.e., the American constitutional amendments, or the German constitutional fundamental rights).[2][3]
References
- ^ Favoreu, Louis (November 1997). "Légalité et constitutionnalité". Cahiers du Conseil constitutionnel. 3: 73.
- ^ a b Mockle, Daniel. "L'État de droit et la théorie de la rule of law". Les Cahiers de droit. 35: 823–904. doi:10.7202/043305ar.
- ^ a b Février, Jean-Marc (2000). Questions de démocratie. Presses universitaires du Mirail. p. 422. ISBN 2-85816-531-9.
- ^ a b Rousseau, Dominique (2016-08-17). "Mon plaidoyer pour l'état de droit". Libération. Retrieved 2019-09-09.
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