Ginsburg, Tom

How to Save a Constitutional Democracy

(No reviews yet) Write a Review

ISBN 13:: 9780226755076
author:: Ginsburg, Tom
format:: Paperback / softback
publisher:: University of Chicago Press
language:: English
Publication Year:: 2020
Pages:: 320
Dimensions:: 22.9 x 15.2 x 2.8 centimeters (0
Genre:: Nonfiction, Law, Constitutional,
Condition:: New
Availability:: Item usually sent within 10 working days

£17.10

Current Stock: 5

Quantity:

Description

Description

Democracies are facing unprecedented challenges. Populist leaders around the world are eroding the core structures of democratic self-rule, and the United States is no exception. The tenure of President Trump has been seen as a decisive turning point for many, but the question remains: can the Constitution safeguard us from lasting damage? Tom Ginsburg and Aziz Z. Huq argue that complacency is no longer an option. Drawing on a rich array of countries' experiences with democratic backsliding, they show how constitutional rules can both hinder and hasten the decline of democratic institutions. The checks and balances of the federal government, civil society, media, and individual rights often fail to protect against democratic erosion. The authors contend that the Constitution's design makes democratic erosion more likely, rather than less. Its structural rigidity has unforeseen consequences, leaving the presidency weakly regulated and empowering the Supreme Court to create doctrines that facilitate rights violations. This sobering reality highlights the need for a more nuanced understanding of constitutional democracy.

View AllClose