Perspektiven der Verfassung

The Basic Law (Grundgesetz) has proved to be the best of all ever existing German constitutions. The will to achieve constitutional effectiveness, the large abandonment of mere symbolic phrases, the decidedness of the Basic Law for continuity and stability but also the federal balancing of the interests of Bund (Federation) and Länder (Counties) as well as the shaping of legal structures are indications for the value and the consistency of the Basic Law in the Federal Republic of Germany. The integrating power of the Basic Law is great. Anyhow, the Constitution is not resistant against deficiencies and criticism. For example, the overemphasized interdependence of Bund- and Länder-power in legislation and administration, the lack of plebiscitary elements but also gaps in the protection of basic rights may be mentioned in this respect. In addition, in Germany there is the permanent danger of an overstraining of the Constitution by “transforming” legal problems to constitutional problems or by taking the Constitution ultimately as a substitute of philosophy or religion. The task of an independent jurisprudence is - in particular - to identify these weaknesses of the Constitution and to find solutions. Concerning the future, the Constitution has to offer solutions of important problems of the community due to the Constitution. In so far, amendments to the Basic Law may be necessary. However, the great number of amendments of the Basic Law in Germany may be a sign of a weak respect for the Constitution as an organically developed law.