This book provides a contextual and authoritative overview of the principles, doctrines and institutions that underpin the Czech constitution. The book explores key topics including; the Czech pluralist constitution, constitutional principles, the interaction between the legislature, executive and the judiciary, the role of local governance and application of fundamental rights in practice. It also covers the morphing of Czech constitutionalism as a result of personal politics, conventions, informal institutions and constitutional narratives and sentiments. This informative study allows students and scholars of law and politics to develop an informed view of how Czech democracy actually works and what its main challenges are.

To what extent is the language of judicial opinions responsive to the political and social context in which constitutional courts operate? Courts are reason-giving institutions, with argumentation playing a central role in constitutional adjudication. However, a cursory look at just a handful of constitutional systems suggests important differences in the practices of constitutional judges, whether in matters of form, style, or language. Focusing on independently-verified leading cases globally, a combination of qualitative and quantitative analysis offers the most comprehensive and systematic account of constitutional reasoning to date. This analysis is supported by the examination of eighteen legal systems around the world including the European Court of Human Rights and the European Court of Justice. Universally common aspects of constitutional reasoning are identified in this book, and contributors also examine whether common law countries differ to civil law countries in this respect.

L’anno 2009 costituisce il 20° anniversario dalla caduta del regime totalitario della Cecoslovacchia, basato sulla dittatura di un unico partito politico. I profondi cambiamenti economici, politici e sociali avvenuti in Cecoslovacchia dopo l’anno 1989 hanno gradualmente influito su tutte le sfere di vita della società, includendo anche il sistema giudiziario. I cambiamenti del sistema giudiziario della Cecoslovacchia socialista si manifestarono soprattutto sul diritto costituzionale. Oltre ai cambiamenti personali avvenuti sulla gestione dello Stato, fu necessario effettuare trasformazioni basilari anche sul sistema giudiziario, corrispondenti alle necessità di un stato democratico.