Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Fundamental Issues in Constitutional Reform: With Special Reference to Latin America and the United States

  • Published:
Constitutional Political Economy Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article describes the kinds of democratic institutions that citizens might include in a constitution that they themselves wrote to advance their common interests. It argues that no single set of institutions dominates all others, but rather that there are advantages and disadvantages to different institutions and, most importantly, that different parts of the constitution can either reinforce or contradict one another. Frequent reference is made to the experience of Latin American countries in the interest of making the arguments more concrete. Many of the same issues are also relevant for the United States, however.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ameringer, C. D. (1982) Democracy in Costa Rica. New York: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Booth, J. A. (1989) “Costa Rica: The Roots of Democratic Stability.” In: Diamond, L., Linz, J. J., and Lipset, S. M. (eds.) Democracy in Developing Countries: Latin America, pp. 387–422. Boulder: Lynne Rienner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buchanan, J. M., and Tullock, G. (1962) The Calculus of Consent. Ann Arbor: The University of Michigan Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caplin, A., and Nalebuff, B. (1988) “On 64%-Majority Rule.” Econometrica 56: 787–814.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carstairs, A. M. (1980) A Short History of Electoral Systems in Western Europe. London: Allen & Unwin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corsi, J. L. (1984) Judicial Politics. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Corwin, E. S. [1981 (1906)] “The Supreme Court and Unconstitutional Acts of Congress.” Michigan Law Review 4: 616–30; reprinted in Loss, R. (ed.) Corwin on the Constitution, Vol. II, pp. 27-40. Ithaca, N.Y.: Cornell University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • de Tocqueville, A. [1945 (1835)] Democracy in America, Vol. 1. New York: Vintage Books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, L., and Linz, J. J. (1989) “Introduction: Politics, Society, and Democracy in Latin America.” In: Diamond, L., Linz, J. J., and Lipset, S. M. (eds.) Democracy in Developing Countries: Latin America, pp. 1–58.Boulder: Lynne Rienner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Diamond, L., Linz, J. J., and Lipset, S. M. (eds.). (1989) Democracy in Developing Countries: Latin America.Boulder: Lynne Rienner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Dubois, P. L. (1980) From Ballot to Bench. Austin: University of Texas Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eyck, E. (1962) A History of the Weimar Republic, Vol. 1. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eyck, E. (1963) A History of the Weimar Republic, Vol. 2. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Friedrich, C. J. (1968) Trends of Federation in Theory and Practice. New York: Prager.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gillespie, C. G., and Gonzalez, L. E. (1989) “Uruguay: The Survival of Old and Autonomous Institutions.” In: Diamond, L., Linz, J. J., and Lipset, S. M. (eds.) Democracy in Developing Countries: Latin America, pp. 207–45. Boulder: Lynne Rienner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Goldman, G. (1973) “The German Political System.” In: Beer, S. H., et al. (eds.) Patterns of Government, 3rd ed., pp. 473–589. New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gwyn, W. B. (1986) “The Separation of Powers and Modern Forms of Democratic Government.” In: Goldwin, R. A., and Kaufman, A. (eds.) Separation of Powers–Does it still Work?, pp. 65–89. Washington, D.C.: American Enterprise Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hartlyn, J. (1989) “Columbia: The Politics of Violence and Accomodation.” In Diamond, L., Linz, J. J., and Lipset, S. M. (eds.) Democracy in Developing Countries: Latin America, pp. 291–334. Boulder: Lynne Rienner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Huntington, S. P. (1968) Political Order in Changing Societies. New Haven: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kantor, H. (1992) “Efforts Made by Latin American Countries to Limit the Power of the President.” In: Lijphart, A. (ed.) Parliamentary versus Presidential Government, pp. 101–10. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamounier, B. (1989) “Brazil: Inequality Against Democracy.” In: Diamond, L., Linz, J. J., and Lipset, S. M. (eds.) Democracy in Developing Countries: Latin America, pp. 111–57. Boulder: Lynne Rienner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lamounier, B. (1989) “Brazil: Inequality Against Democracy.” In: Diamond, L., Linz, J. J., and Lipset, S. M. (eds.) Politics in Developing Countries, pp. 87–134. Boulder, Colo.: L. Rienner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lepsius, M. R. (1978) “From Fragmented Party Democracy to Government by Emergency Decree and National Socialist Takeover: Germany.” In: Linz, J. L., and Stephan, A. (eds.) The Breakdown of Democratic Regimes, part II, pp. 34–79. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levine, D. H. (1989) “Venezuela: The Nature, Sources, and Future Prospects of Democracy.” In: Diamond, L., Linz, J. J., and Lipset, S. M. (eds.) Democracy in Developing Countries: Latin America, pp. 247–89. Boulder: Lynne Rienner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lijphart, A. (1984) Democracies. New Haven: Yale University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lijphart, A. (1980) “The Political Consequences of Electoral Laws, 1945-85.” American Political Science Review 84: 481–96.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lijphart, A., and Grofman, B. (eds.). (1984) Choosing an Electoral System: Issues and Alternatives. New York: Praeger.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lijphart, A., and Waisman, C. H. (eds.). (1996) Institutional Design in New Democracies: Eastern Europe and Latin America. Boulder: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lopes, J. B. (1996) “Obstacles to Economic Reform in Brazil.” In: Lijphart, A., and Waisman, C. H. (eds.) Institutional Design in New Democracies: Eastern Europe and Latin America, pp. 195–218. Boulder: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Macridis, R. C. (1978) “Politics of France.” In: Macridis, R. C. (ed.) Modern Political Systems: Europe, 4th ed., pp. 93–174. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice Hall.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mainwaring, S. (1992) “Presidentialism in Latin America.” In: Lijphart, A. (ed.) Parliamentary versus Presidential Government, pp. 111–17. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Marshall, T. (1979) “Mr. Justice Marshall Comments on the Missouri Plan.” Remarks by Justice Marshall before American College of Trial Lawyers, Coronado, California, March 14, 1977. In: Murphy, W., and Pritchett, C. H. (eds.) Courts, Judges, and Politics, 3rd ed., pp. 155–59. New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • McClintock, C. (1989) “Peru: Regimes, Authoritarian and Democratic.” In: Diamond, L., Linz, J. J., and Lipset, S. M. (eds.) Democracy in Developing Countries: Latin America, pp. 335–85. Boulder: Lynne Rienner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moulin, H. (1981a) “The Proportional Veto Principle.” Review of Economic Studies 48: 407–16.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moulin, H. (1981b) “Prudence versus Sophistication in Voting Strategy.” Journal of Economic Theory 24: 398–412.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mueller, D. C. (1978) “Voting by Veto.” Journal of Public Economics 10: 57–75.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mueller, D. C. (1984) “Voting by Veto and Majority Rule.” In: Hanusch, H. (ed.) Public Finance and the Quest for Efficiency, pp. 69–86. Detroit: Wayne State University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mueller, D. C. (1989) Public Choice II. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mueller, D. C. (1991) “Constitutional Rights.” Journal of Law, Economics, and Organization 7: 313–33.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mueller, D. C. (1996) Constitutional Democracy. New York and Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Murphy, W. E., and Pritchett, C. H. (eds.). (1979) Courts, Judges, and Politics, 3rd ed. New York: Random House.

    Google Scholar 

  • Neustadt, R. E. (1960) Presidential Power: The Politics of Leadership. New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nino, C. S. (1996) “Hyperpresidentialism and Constitutional Reform in Argentina.” In: Lijphart, A., and Waisman, C. H. (eds.) Institutional Design in NewDemocracies: Eastern Europe and Latin America, pp. 161–74. Boulder: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Niskanen, W. A. (1992) “The Case for a New Fiscal Constitution.” Journal of Economic Perspectives 6: 13–24.

    Google Scholar 

  • Nohlen, D. (1996) “Electoral Systems and Electoral Reform in Latin America.” In: Lijphart, A., and Waisman, C. H. (eds.) Institutional Design in New Democracies: Eastern Europe and Latin America, pp. 43–57. Boulder: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Peeler, J. A. (1985) Latin American Democracies: Columbia, Costa Rica, Venezuela. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rae, D. W. (1969) “Decision-Rules and Individual Values in Constitutional Choice.” American Political Science Review 63: 40–56.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, A., Reilly, B., and Grofman, B. (1998) “The World of Electoral Systems.” In: Rush, M. (ed.) Voting Rights and Redistricting in the United States: An Encyclopedic Guide. New York: Greenwood.

    Google Scholar 

  • Riggs, F. W. (1992) “Presidentialism: A Problematic Regime Type.” In: Lijphart A. (ed.) Parliamentary versus Presidential Government, pp. 217–22. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schlesinger, A. M. Jr. (1989) The Imperial Presidency. Boston: Houghton Mifflin.

    Google Scholar 

  • Seligson, M. A. (1990) “Costa Rica.” In: Wiarda, H. J., and Kline, H. F. (eds.) Latin American Politics andDevelopment, 3rd ed., pp. 455–66. Boulder: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sigmund, P.W. (1990) “Chile.” In: Wiarda, H. J., and Kline, H. F. (eds.) Latin American Politics and Development, 3rd ed., pp. 201–30. Boulder: Westview Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, G. (1989) Politics in Western Europe, 5th ed. New York: Holmes & Meier.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sundquist, J. L. (1986) Constitutional Reform and Effective Government. Washington, D.C.: Brookings Institution.

    Google Scholar 

  • The Federalist (1937) Indianapolis: Modern Library No. 63: 409–10.

  • Valenzuela, A. (1989) “Chile: Origins, Consolidation, and Breakdown of a Democratic Regime.” In: Diamond, L., Linz, J. J., and Lipset, S. M. (eds.) Democracy in Developing Countries: Latin America, pp. 159–206.Boulder: Lynne Rienner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Valenzuela, A. (1990) “Chile: Origins, Consolidation, and Breakdown of a Democratic Regime.” In: Diamond, L., Linz, J. J., and Lipset, S. M. (eds.) Politics in Developing Countries, pp. 39–86. Boulder, Colo.: L. Rienner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Waisman, C. H. (1989) “Argentina: Autarkic Industrialization and Illegitimacy.” In: Diamond, L., Linz, J. J., and Lipset, S. M. (eds.) Democracy in Developing Countries: Latin America, pp. 59–109. Boulder: Lynne Rienner.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watson, R. A., and Downing, R. C. (1969) The Politics of the Bench and the Bar. New York: JohnWiley & Sons.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weingast, B. R. (1992) “Federalism and the Political Commitment to Sustain Markets.” Mimeo. Stanford, CA: Hoover Institute.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, F. L. (1990) European Politics Today. Englewood Cliffs, N.J.: Prentice-Hall.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Economics, University of Vienna, BWZ - Bruenner Str. 72, A-1210, Vienna, Austria

    Dennis C. Mueller

Authors
  1. Dennis C. Mueller
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Mueller, D.C. Fundamental Issues in Constitutional Reform: With Special Reference to Latin America and the United States. Constitutional Political Economy 10, 119–148 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009054610479

Download citation

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1009054610479

Keywords

Search

Navigation