Transformation by Decree? A (Brief) Reflection on the ‘Directive Constitution’ (Constituição Dirigente) in Brazil

Florian F. Hoffmann; Fabio Carvalho Leite

doi:10.5771/0506-7286-2023-3-549

Contents
- Chapter Expand | CollapseAuthorsPage
- 491–492 Titelei/Inhaltsverzeichnis 491–492
- 493–610 Symposium 493–610
  - 493–505 The Directive Constitution in the Varieties of Constitutionalism: An Introduction Michael Riegner Michael Riegner 493–505
  - 506–523 "Constitucionalismo Dirigente" and Transformative Constitutionalism: Common Elements, Differences, and Methodological Challenges Mariana Canotilho Mariana Canotilho 506–523
  - 524–548 Asking for Directions: The Origins of Gomes Canotilho Directive Constitutionalism at the Crossroads of Contemporary Constitutional Thought Luís António Malheiro Meneses do Vale Luís António Malheiro Meneses do Vale 524–548
  - 549–567 Transformation by Decree? A (Brief) Reflection on the ‘Directive Constitution’ (Constituição Dirigente) in Brazil Florian F. Hoffmann, Fabio Carvalho Leite Florian F. Hoffmann, Fabio Carvalho Leite 549–567
  - 568–586 The Theories of Constituição Dirigente and Transformative Constitutionalism and Their Reception by Brazilian Constitutional Theory: An Approach Based on Critical Comparative Law Deo Campos Dutra Deo Campos Dutra 568–586
  - 587–601 Bridging Past and Future: Transformative Constitutionalism and Directive Constitutions Amidst Authoritarian Challenges Juliana Cesario Alvim Gomes Juliana Cesario Alvim Gomes 587–601
  - 602–610 A Comment from a South African Perspective on Directive and Transformative Constitutionalism in Comparative Constitutional Law Jonathan Klaaren Jonathan Klaaren 602–610
- 611–654 Abhandlungen / Articles 611–654
  - 611–632 State of Exception and Internal Colonialism:The Construction of the Belo Monte Power Plant in Brazil Giovanni Martins de Araújo Mascarenhas Giovanni Martins de Araújo Mascarenhas 611–632
  - 633–654 Lessons from the Law and Politics of Federalism in Africa: Federalism Is Bigger Than Federation; Constitutions Are More Than Single Mega-Documents; the International Trumps the Domestic; and the Past Continues to Matter Jan Erk Jan Erk 633–654
- 655–662 Buchbesprechungen / Book Reviews 655–662
  - 655–659 Arun K Thiruvengadam, Constitution of India: A Contextual Analysis Florian Matthey-Prakash Florian Matthey-Prakash 655–659
  - 659–662 Silvia von Steinsdorff, Ece Göztepe, Maria Abad Andrade and Felix Petersen, The Constitutional Court of Turkey Between Legal and Political Reasoning İlker Gökhan Sen İlker Gökhan Sen 659–662
- 663–663 VRÜ/WCL Article Prize Volume 54 (2021) 663–663
- 664–664 Call for Papers 664–664
- 665–666 Impressum 665–666
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VRÜ Verfassung und Recht in Übersee , page 549 - 567

Transformation by Decree? A (Brief) Reflection on the ‘Directive Constitution’ (Constituição Dirigente) in Brazil

Autoren

Florian F. Hoffmann Fabio Carvalho Leite

DOI
- doi.org/10.5771/0506-7286-2023-3-549
- ISSN: 0506-7286
- ISSN online: 2941-9603
Abstract

Coined originally by the great constitutional law scholar José Gomes Canotilho in the aftermath the post-revolutionary Portuguese constitution of 1974, the concept of a constituição dirigente (‘directive constitution’) has found some expression in the Brazilian (re-democratization) constitution of 1988 (CF88), which contains a number of injunctions and mandates aimed at ‘directing’ (primarily) the legislature towards the enactment of a wide-range of economic, administrative, and also civil rights matters. In doing so, the CF88 did not only purport to protect the new democratic system from falling (back) into autocracy but it also entrenched a deeply (social) transformative agenda in the constitutional telos. In the unfolding constitutional reality since the CF88’s entry into force, the courts, and especially the apex court (STF) sought to interpret and concretize these ‘directive’ elements in a continuous ‘dance’ with and around an often recalcitrant legislature and (to a lesser degree) executive. Many elements have been modified or watered down, though some have been upheld and realized, not least on account of a ‘neo-constitutionalist’ turn in Brazilian constitutional doctrine that has led the way for an unprecedented (self-)empowerment of the judiciary vis-à-vis the other branches of government. This has, arguably, transformed the original ‘directive constitution’ into a ‘directive constitutionalism’ led by the courts that has produced ambivalent outcomes.
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