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"People, Your Government Has Returned To You!"

The Czech Constitution of 1992 as Return to Constitutional Tradition

By
  • Gwendoline Tuma
  • Nikolai Wenzel

Originally published in New Perspectives on Political Economy

Unlike many of its Eastern European neighbors, the Czech Republic originates from a healthy constitutional tradition. Upon the creation of Czechoslovakia and through the modern day, the Czech Republic has had four constitutions, with major amendments to the documents of the Communist era. Three constitutions, from 1920, 1948, and 1960, served as guidelines for the creation of the 1992 constitution.

Unlike many of its Eastern European neighbors, the Czech Republic originates from a healthy constitutional tradition. Upon the creation of Czechoslovakia and through the modern day, the Czech Republic has had four constitutions, with major amendments to the documents of the Communist era. Three constitutions, from 1920, 1948, and 1960, served as guidelines for the creation of the 1992 constitution. Because the Czech Republic had not foreseen the Velvet Divorce from Slovakia, government officials found themselves in a rush to create a constitution for the new Czech state. The new document responded to the many injustices of the Communist era and adopted most of the precedents set in the 1920 constitution. The Czech Republic's democratic and constitutional past sets it apart from other Eastern European countries, especially in terms of contemporary political and economic liberty.

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