Political Concepts in the French Revolution

A state is a politically defined territory governed by a centralized power, with its own laws, institutions, and citizens. It is considered to have sovereignty within its borders.

The concept of a state emerged from the ideas of prominent philosophers like Machiavelli, Hobbes, Locke, and Rousseau, each offering perspectives on state formation and governance.

Machiavelli argued that the primary function of a state is to maintain order and security, even if it requires using force and deceit. He believed that legitimacy came from the state's ability to maintain power, not from ethical considerations.

Hobbes, known for his work 'Leviathan,' proposed that individuals enter a social contract to establish a state for order and security. The state, embodied by the Leviathan, should possess absolute and undivided power to prevent chaos.

Locke believed that individuals are naturally free and possess inalienable rights to life, liberty, and property. The state, formed through a social contract, is entrusted with protecting these rights.

The rule of law emphasizes governing through established laws that are applied equally to everyone, including those in power. It contrasts with arbitrary rule where power is exercised without restrictions.

The rule of law has evolved from different legal traditions: civil law based on written codes, common law based on precedents, and international law. Today, it is often a blend of these.

The Rechtsstaat emphasizes the material protection of human rights through laws, while the Etat de Droit focuses on the procedural aspects of law, ensuring fairness and due process.

The idea that the legitimacy of a state's power comes from the consent of the people it governs.

A state's primary responsibilities are to protect individual rights, including life, liberty, and property, and to ensure impartial justice.

The collective will of the people, representing the common good, which forms the basis of the State's authority.

The agreement by individuals to surrender some of their individual freedoms in exchange for the benefits of living in a society with laws and order.

A political system where the power of the state is limited by laws and constitutional rights, emphasizing individual freedom and the rule of law.

The shift in the Liberal State's focus towards recognizing and safeguarding labor rights, addressing the needs of the working class.

The expansion of the state's role to include social welfare programs and protections for workers, aiming to achieve a more equitable society.

A political system where the sovereignty rests with the citizens, who participate in governance through elections and other forms of political engagement.

A foundational legal order of a political community, inextricably linked to the state.

A document containing a nation's fundamental laws and principles.

A system where the constitution's rules are spread across various laws and documents.

The form of state power organization, focusing on how authority is structured.

A political system where the power of the state is vested in the people, and the government operates under the rule of law.

A political system where the supreme power is vested in a monarch, usually a king or queen.

A state where the Constitution is the supreme law, ensuring that all other laws are subject to its principles.

Territories with self-governing rights (fueros) under a larger sovereign authority, allowing them to operate with distinct legal and administrative systems. Examples include Navarra and País Vasco in Spain.

The principle that decisions should be handled by the smallest, most local competent authority that is able to effectively address the issue, rather than by a centralized authority. This approach seeks to ensure more efficient, effective, and responsive governance.

Spain's governance structure has 17 autonomous communities and 2 autonomous cities, each with its own government, parliament, and powers defined by the statute of autonomy.

The UK has a national parliament and separate legislatures for Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland, which have their own powers and laws.

The term 'Café para todos' describes a strategy or policy that aims to appease all parties involved in an issue by offering the same treatment to everyone, even if it means compromising or diluting the solution.

While the UK has three parliaments, its sovereignty ultimately lies with the national parliament in Westminster.

A state is considered a politically defined territory governed by a centralized power. A nation, however, is a group of people with a shared culture, tradition, and territory. These concepts are not synonymous.

Spain is a nation with multiple nationalities within its borders. These nationalities have unique cultures and identities but share a common national identity.

The principle that parliament has the highest authority and can create or change any law, including those that are constitutionally significant.

Unwritten rules that are considered binding because of tradition and acceptance. They are not formally codified but are followed as if they were laws.

A change to the Constitution that is not formally written down but emerges from changes in political practices and acceptance.

A document that gives a country the right to withdraw from the European Union.

The UK was able to leave the EU because of the principle that the people of a country have the ultimate authority, and parliament expresses that authority.

The decision to leave the EU was made within the UK parliament, using general principles of sovereignty and without needing permission from other countries.

The head of state in a country can propose changes (or amendments) to the constitution.

A legislative proposal (or bill) that aims to amend the Constitution must be approved by both houses of Parliament, and in France, a three-fifths majority is needed for certain amendments.

A constitutional amendment must be reviewed for adherence to the procedural requirements specified in the constitution; it must follow the correct process, ensuring a sufficient majority vote and public participation if mandated.

This review examines whether a proposed constitutional amendment violates the core principles of the constitution, like democracy, human rights, the separation of powers, and territorial integrity.

A judicial doctrine used to invalidate an amendment if it significantly undermines the core identity of the constitution, even if it complies with procedural requirements.

The 2010 attempt to amend the Colombian constitution for President Alvaro Uribe to run for a third term was rejected because the court deemed it harmful to democratic principles and victims' rights.

The US Supreme Court case, Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, overturned the legal right to abortion established in Roe v. Wade (1973) and Planned Parenthood v. Casey (1992), returning the decision-making power to states.

The Dobbs v. Jackson ruling raised important questions about the constitutional right to abortion and the principle of federalism.

A concept where power is shared between a central government and regional governments, like states or provinces.