The Theories of the Concept of Material Constitution

Authors

  • Maurizio Fioravanti Università di Firenze

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17811/hc.v0i12.295

Keywords:

Theories of the concept of material Constitution, Legal order of the Nation, Rule of Law, Democratic Constitutions of the 19th Century

Abstract

This essay deals with the analysis of the theories of the concept of material Constitution. These theories characterize for their looking for a basement of law at the political community, not reduced to the mere being into force of the statutes. It has been this way since the rule of law principle of the 19th Century, based on historic grounds which link to Savigny. This theory is based upon the idea of the legal order of the Nation, which logical expression is the law of the State. This coherence would disappear at the 20th Century, due to the controversial use of the notion of material Constitution as opposed to the law of the Parliament, understood as mere formal legislation. Only with the Constitutions of the second half of the Century it will be possible to find the suitable conditions for a theory that tries to take up again the origin of the current Constitution in the deep aspect of the political community. In Italy, Costantino Mortati is the perfect example.

Submission Date: 15/09/2010

Acceptance Date: 01/11/2010

 

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Author Biography

Maurizio Fioravanti, Università di Firenze

(Prato, 1952). È professore ordinario di Storia del diritto medievale e moderno e di Storia delle costituzioni moderne nell’ Università di Firenze. Ha insegnato nelle Università di Macerata e di Modena. Ha svolto attività di ricerca in Germania presso il Max Planck Institut per la storia del diritto europeo. È membro della società tedesca di storia costituzionale. Fa parte della redazione dei Quaderni fiorentini per la storia del pensiero giuridico moderno. I suoi attuali interessi riguardano la storia costituzionale comparata, la storia del costituzionalismo e in particolare la storia costituzionale europea. Tra le sue più recenti pubblicazioni: Appunti di storia delle costituzioni moderne, Torino 1995; Costituzione e popolo sovrano, Bologna 1998; Costituzione, Bologna 1999; La scienza del diritto pubblico, Milano, 2001; Lo Stato moderno in Europa. Istituzioni e diritto (a cura di), Roma-Bari, 2002 ; Costituzionalismo. Percorsi della storia e tendenze attuali, Roma-Bari, 2009 ; Il valore della Costituzione. L’esperienza della democrazia repubblicana ( a cura di ), Roma-Bari, 2009.

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Issue

No. 12 (2011): Historia Constitucional N. 12 (2011)

Section

Constitution and Constitutional History

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