For more than two decades, Indonesian election law has required political parties to include at least 30 percent women on their candidate lists for legislative elections. However, the quota has not fully achieved its intended objective. Women continue to be underrepresented in the House of Representatives (DPR) and Regional Houses of Representatives (DPRD).

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Full Text: M. Lutfi Chakim, From Aspirational Quota to Constitutional Mandate in Indonesia, Int’l J. Const. L. Blog, Jun. 16, 2026, at: http://www.iconnectblog.com/from-aspirational-quota-to-constitutional-mandate-in-indonesia/

Abstract

This research focuses on the Proportionality test model of Competing Rights in practice in civil law countries (Germany and South Korea) and the Common Law System (United States and Canada). The research method used is a normative legal research method with statutory, comparative, and case approaches. The results show that the proportionality test is the "ultimate rule of law," a fundamental benchmark in judicial review, and has become a global constitutionalism recognised and applied internationally. Its application is structured and systematic with four test stages, such as German, Canadian, and South Korean models. Meanwhile, it is unstructured in the United States, and there is only one analytical tool (balancing test). In the case of decision, the four stages are only sometimes applied, but according to the needs of the analysis. If, at the third stage (necessity/minimal impairment), it is found that the object being tested is contrary to the Constitution, then the argumentation focuses on that analysis of it. The fourth stage is used if the case is more complicated and requires analysing the balance of norms and legal values. Meanwhile, in the Indonesian Constitutional Court practice, there is a proportional analysis, but it is partial, unstructured, and unsystematic. Therefore, in the future, it is essential to develop an Indonesian model of the principle of proportionality under the values of Pancasila and the 1945 Constitution.

How to Cite: Tanto Lailam, Putri Anggia, M. Lutfi Chakim, The Proportionality Test Models of Competing Rights Cases in the Civil and Common Law Systems: Lesson to Learn for Indonesia, Hasanuddin Law Review, Vol. 10, No. 2, 2024, 206-225.

Full Text: https://doi.org/10.20956/halrev.v10i2.4844 

Deskripsi

Sistem demokrasi merupakan fondasi utama dalam kehidupan berbangsa dan bernegara. Salah satu ciri utama dari sistem ini adalah partai politik, pemilu, dan parlemen yang merupakan elemen-elemen penting dalam bekerjanya sebuah sistem pemerintahan demokrasi. Partai politik mewadahi pluralitas aspirasi dan kepentingan masyarakat. Pemilu menjadi arena kontestasi demokrasi bagi partai dan kandidat dalam rangka memperoleh kepercayaan dan mandat politik publik. Sedangkan parlemen merupakan lembaga perwakilan rakyat yang melaksanakan fungsi legislasi, pengawasan dan penganggaran.

Buku ini adalah sebuah studi mengenai pola relasi relasi antara sistem pemilu, peran partai politik, dan anggota parlemen yang penuh dengan kompleksitas dalam konteks negara demokrasi. Dalam lembar-lembar buku ini, penulis mengajak pembaca untuk menjelajahi tiga elemen kunci yang membentuk landasan demokrasi: pemilu, partai politik, dan parlemen. Pembaca tentunya akan menjumpai penjelasan mengenai varian sistem pemilu dan konstitusionalitas sistem pemilu proporsional terbuka. Menggali lebih dalam, buku ini juga membahas terkait pilar demokrasi yang lain yaitu peran sentral partai politik dalam proses pemilu, seperti mengusulkan calon anggota DPR/DPRD dan bentuk tanggungjawab partai politik dalam melakukan pengawasan terhadap kinerja para anggotanya di parlemen yang diwujudkan melalui mekanisme hak recall partai politik.

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ABSTRACT

The study aims to propose an adoption to concrete judicial review in Indonesian Constitutional Court based on the experiences of the German Federal Constitutional Court. It was motivated by the weak protection of citizen’s constitutional rights in ordinary court; and the absence of concrete judicial review authority at the Indonesian Constitutional Court. This study used doctrinal legal research method with legal documents or regulations, cases, and comparative analyses. This concrete review confirms the role of judges of ordinary courts in proceeding with the constitutional system, especially in protecting fundamental rights from the legislatures’ law violations based on Articles 93, 94, and 100 of the German Basic Law and the GFCC Act. The Indonesian Constitutional Court needs a concrete review authority in the future and the GFCC is the best judicial reference. There are several constitutional and legal arguments. Constitutional arguments and legal facts explain the necessity of the authority for the Indonesian Constitutional Court. Firstly, there are many cases faced by Indonesian Constitutional Court. Secondly, it can provide solutions for the dualism judicial review problem on conflicted decisions between the Constitutional Court and the Supreme Court. Thirdly, it can strengthen the role of judges in the Supreme Court (general, religious, military, and administrative courts) to generate the obligation to uphold the 1945 Constitution. The proposal through the amendment of the 1945 Constitution is an ideal way to create legal certainty and to strengthen institutions for the protection of fundamental rights in Indonesia.

How to Cite: Lailam, Tanto, and M. Lutfi Chakim. "A Proposal to Adopt Concrete Judicial Review in Indonesian Constitutional Court: A Study on the German Federal Constitutional Court Experiences." Padjadjaran Jurnal Ilmu Hukum (Journal of Law) 10, no. 2 (2023): 148-171.

Full Text: https://doi.org/10.22304/pjih.v10n2.a1

As the supreme law, the constitution is formed to regulate the national identity of a country, protect human rights, and limit the power of the state. However, upholding the constitution is a long and difficult process. One problem faced by many countries in upholding the constitution is that there is a huge gap between constitutional text and constitutional reality. The most common argument put forward for this is that the implementation of the constitution involves the dynamic between political, economic, and social powers, as well as the character of each country.

Considering the implementation of the dynamic constitutional system in each country, one of the key questions raised is what mechanism may be used to measure constitutional compliance by the government? The idea that the performance of a constitution can be evaluated is highly interesting in the context of constitution-building. With the development of the constitution, what constitutions seek to achieve and how they achieve it has become an important topic of discussion. 

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This article has been published in IACL-AIDC Blog. To read the full article, find out via the link here!

Abstract

Since its establishment in 2003, the Constitutional Court of Indonesia (the CCI) has been playing an important role in securing basic democratic order, the rule of law and fundamental rights protection in Indonesia. Despite its achievements, however, the Indonesian constitutional adjudication system also has raised public comments and criticisms, due to deficiencies in the organizational system, including appointment, supervision, and dismissal of constitutional justices. The aim of this article is to evaluate the Court’s organizational system by finding the problems and challenges faced by the Court. To give maximum protection to the fundamental rights of citizens in Indonesia, it is imperative that the CCI should improve its role and performance, while the current organizational problems can be solved using a comparative study with constitutional courts in other countries. The article proceeds to offer proposals for improving the CCI’s organizational system, such as improving the justices’ appointment system and strengthening the ethics supervisory system of justices.

How to Cite: Chakim, M.L., 2021. Organizational Improvement of the Indonesian Constitutional Court: Reflections on Appointment, Supervision, and Dismissal of Justices. International Journal for Court Administration, 12(1), p.1. DOI: http://doi.org/10.36745/ijca.308

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This article has been published in the International Journal for Court Administration (IJCA), Volume 12 - Issue 1 - 2021.

To read the full article, find out via the link here!

Abstract

Freedom of speech is a constitutional right that must be protected in a democratic society. However, there is an alarming problem in many countries where governments limit freedom of speech by targeting people espousing views contrary to those of the government. Many free speech cases handled by the Constitutional Courts of Indonesia and Korea demonstrate a gradual decline in the quality of democracy there. This article aims to assess the extent to which the Constitutional Courts’ role and responsibilities contribute to the protection of freedom of speech. Through its decisions, the Constitutional Courts in those two countries have contributed to institutionalizing freedom of speech as a permanent fixture of democracy by keeping the state institutions transparent and making the state responsive to public opinion and criticism. Although freedom of speech is not an absolute right and can be limited, the limitation should be done only under strict conditions, where it is required and proportionate. When dealing with freedom of speech cases in any future judgments, the Constitutional Courts should consider the proportionality test against State arguments. This method would allow the Courts to determine the limitation in freedom of speech cases.

Keywords: freedom of speech, democracy, Constitutional Court, Indonesia, South Korea

Suggested Citation: M Lutfi Chakim, Freedom of Speech and the Role of Constitutional Courts: The Cases of Indonesia and South Korea, Volume 10 Number 2, May-August 2020, 191-205.

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This article has been published in Indonesia Law Review, Volume 10 Number 2, May - August 2020. To read the full article, find out via the link here!