Skip to main content

ETHNOS_APP

Home • Search • Journals • List 0

The Role of Constitutional Courts in the Establishment and Maintenance of Democratic Systems of Government

Bibliographic Data

ID4789489
AuthorsLee Epstein (0000-0001-5120-9005, Washington University in St. Louis), Olga Shvetsova (0000-0002-7302-7197), Jack Knight (0000-0002-0367-0785)
Year2001
Volume35
Issue1
Pages117-163
Publication date2001-01-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueLaw & Society Review (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0023-9216 • E-ISSN: 1540-5893
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.2307/3185388
OpenAlexW2016093233
LanguageEN
Citations received97
References cited55

What role do courts play in the establishment and maintenance of constitutional democracies? To address this question, we elaborate a model that draws on existing substantive literature and on theories that assume strategic behavior on the part of judges, executives, and legislatures. This model, in turn, leads to several behavioral predictions about the interactions among the relevant political actors. Although those predictions could be assessed in many distinct contexts, we focus on Russia. In particular, we provide a demonstration of how the model helps make sense of the behavior of the Constitutional Court (Konstitucjonnyj sud) in light of the difficult political situation it confronted. We conclude with some thoughts on the broader implications of our theory for the study of courts throughout Eastern Europe and how it may well illuminate constitutional politics in other parts of the world

Democracy · Government (linguistics · Law and economics · Political science · Politics · Sociology · European and International Law Studies · Judicial and Constitutional Studies · Law · Legal and Constitutional Studies · Philosophy · Public Administration

  • Fragmentation of Power and the Emergence of an Effective Judiciary in Mexico, 1994-2002

    Open Access•Julio Ríos-Figueroa, Julio Rios Figueroa•Latin American Politics and Society•2007

  • Politics of Desecularization

    Open Access•Sharjil Saeed, Sadia Saeed•Politics of Desecularization•2016

  • Law

    Open Access•Lauren B Edelman, Lauren Edelman et al.•International Encyclopedia of the…•2015

  • The Politics of Institutional Weakness in Latin America

    Open Access•Daniel M Brinks, Steven Levitsky et al.•Politics of Institutional…•2020

  • Designing Federalism

    Open Access•Mikhail Filippov, Михаил Филиппов et al.•Designing Federalism•2004

  • The Politics of Constitutional Review in Germany

    Open Access•Georg Vanberg•Politics of Constitutional Review…•2004

  • The Role of Comparative Law in the Analysis of Judicial Behavior

    Open Access•Lee Epstein, Urška Šadl et al.•The American Journal of…•2021

  • Understanding Institutional Weakness

    Open Access•Daniel M Brinks, Steven Levitsky et al.•Understanding Institutional…•2019

  • Ministrocracia

    Open Access•Diego Werneck Arguelhes, Leandro Molhano Ribeiro•Novos Estudos - CEBRAP•2018

  • Impunidad en El Salvador y Guatemala

    Open Access•Elena Martínez Barahona, Martha Liliana Gutiérrez-Salazar et al.•AMÉRICA LATINA HOY•2012

  • Judicial Review in a Defective Democracy

    Open Access•Maoz Rosenthal, Gad Barzilai et al.•Journal of Law and Courts•2021

  • Judicial diplomacy of the German Federal Constitutional Court

    Open Access•Philipp Meyer•Zeitschrift für Vergleichende…•2021

  • Elections, Public Awareness, and the Efficacy of Constitutional Review

    Open Access•Jay N Krehbiel•Journal of Law and Courts•2019

  • Insecure Institutions

    Open Access•Gretchen Helmke, Yeonkyung Jeong et al.•Journal of Law and Courts•2021

  • Timing Control without Docket Control

    Open Access•Diego Werneck Arguelhes, Ivar Alberto Hartmann•Journal of Law and Courts•2017

  • Political Competition and Judicial Independence

    Open Access•Joshua Boston, David Carlson et al.•Journal of Law and Courts•2023

  • Balancing and judicial self-empowerment

    Open Access•Niels Petersen•Global Constitutionalism•2015

  • Democracy, courts and proportionality analysis in Asia

    Open Access•Po Jen Yap•Global Constitutionalism•2020

  • Guardians of integration? The Constitutional Court of Colombia and regionalism in the age of populism

    Juan Zahir Naranjo Cáceres•Global Discourse•2025

  • Citizens’ Perceptions of Security Issues

    Open Access•Luca Guido Valla•Journal of Human Security•2022

  • The formation of a European constitution

    Open Access•Chris Thornhill•International Journal of Law in…•2012

  • Beyond Judicialization

    Open Access•Christoph Hönnige•European Political Science•2010

  • The Strategic Analysis of Judicial Decisions

    Open Access•Lee Epstein, Tonja Jacobi•Annual Review of Law and Social…•2010

  • Comparative Constitutional Studies

    Open Access•Theunis Roux•Annual Review of Law and Social…•2017

  • Constitutionalism and Political Science

    Mark A Graber•Perspectives on Politics•2005

  • The Political Logic of China’s New Environmental Courts

    Rachel E Stern•The China Journal•2014

  • Judicial Review and Constitutional Maintenance

    Open Access•Nikolai G Wenzel•PS Political Science & Politics•2013

  • Constrained, pragmatic pro-democratic appraising constitutional review courts in post-Soviet politics

    Open Access•Armen Mazmanyan•Communist and Post-Communist…•2010

  • Government Lawyers and Non-judicial Constitutional Review in Estonia

    Nancy Maveety, Vello Pettai•Europe Asia Studies•2004

  • The Sources of Resilience of International Human Rights Courts

    Open Access•Ezequiel González-Ocantos, Wayne Sandholtz•Law & Social Inquiry•2021

  • Dynamic, Regressive, or Obstructionist Courts? What Kinds of Hopes for Judicial Review

    Open Access•Rosalind Dixon•Law & Social Inquiry•2024

  • Social Network Analysis and the Diffusion of the Strict Liability Rule for Manufacturing Defects, 1963–87

    Open Access•Robert C Bird, Donald J Smythe•Law & Social Inquiry•2011

  • International Judges on Constitutional Courts

    Open Access•Alex Schwartz•Law & Social Inquiry•2017

  • Compliance

    Open Access•Diana Kapiszewski, Matthew M Taylor•Law & Social Inquiry•2012

  • Courts between Democracy and Hybrid Authoritarianism

    Open Access•Raúl A Sánchez Urribarri, Raul A Sanchez-Urribarri•Law & Social Inquiry•2011

  • A Peripatetic World Court” Cosmopolitan Courts, Nationalist Judges and the Indian Appeal to the Privy Council

    Open Access•Rohit De•Law and History Review•2014

  • La Cour Constitutionnelle de La Fédération de Russie et Les Événements d’octobre 1993

    Anne Gazier•Revue d’études comparatives…•2016

  • Hegemonic preservation or horizontal accountability

    Open Access•Yasushi Hazama•International Political Science…•2011

  • The Strength of Weak Review

    Open Access•Yonatan Lupu, Pierre-Hugues Verdier et al.•International Studies Quarterly•2019

  • Control constitucional y justicia transicional en Colombia. Los roles judiciales en procesos de paz negociada

    Open Access•Michael Cruz Rodríguez•Análisis Político•2023

  • Loyalty in Federal Systems

    Open Access•Patricia Popelier•Publius The Journal of Federalism•2025

  • How institutions structure judicial behaviour

    Lee Epstein•University of Toronto Law Journal•2019

  • Perceptions of the Rule of Law

    Open Access•Jeff Yates, Andrew B Whitford et al.•Social Science Quarterly•2019

  • How to Place Non-Majoritarian Institutions and Political Actors in a Common Policy Space

    Benjamin G Engst, David M Grundmanns et al.•The Journal of Politics•2024

  • The Electoral Connection

    Christoph Hönnige•West European Politics•2009

  • Compensation and Compliance

    Open Access•Ezequiel González-Ocantos, Elias Dinas•Law & Society Review•2019

  • Justicia postransicional en Guatemala

    Open Access•Martha Liliana Gutiérrez-Salazar, Martha Liliana Gutiérrez•Revista de ciencia política•2015

  • Passing and Strategic Voting on the U.S. Supreme Court

    Open Access•Timothy R Johnson, James F Spriggs et al.•Law & Society Review•2005

  • The Judicialization of (Separation of Powers) Politics

    Open Access•Druscilla L Scribner•Journal of Politics in Latin…•2010

  • Trust in Colombia’s Justicia Especial Para La Paz

    Open Access•Sandra Botero•Journal of Politics in Latin…•2020

  • Ruling against the Executive in Amparo Cases

    Open Access•Lydia Brashear Tiede, Aldo F Ponce•Journal of Politics in Latin…•2011

  • Trusting the Courts

    Open Access•Tainara Pereira Da Cruz•Journal of Politics in Latin…•2024

  • The Indian Supreme Court and constitutional amendments

    Open Access•Amal Sethi•Global Constitutionalism•2025

  • Strategic Delay and the Use of Incompatibility Rulings at the German Constitutional Court

    Jay N Krehbiel•The Journal of Politics•2021

  • Epilogue

    Ran Hirschl•Representation•2013

  • The institutionalization of relative advantage

    Fabian Burkhardt•Post-Soviet Affairs•2017

  • Constitutionalism, Judiciary, and Democracy in Islamic Societies

    Open Access•Güneş Murat Tezcür•Polity•2007

  • Judicial Autonomy in Central America

    Open Access•Rachel E Bowen•Political Research Quarterly•2013

  • The Realist Turn in Comparative Constitutional Politics

    Open Access•Ran Hirschl•Political Research Quarterly•2009

  • Doing Courts Justice? Studying Judicial Politics in Latin America

    Open Access•Diana Kapiszewski, Matthew M Taylor•Perspectives on Politics•2008

  • Sustaining and jeopardising a credible arbiter

    Open Access•Alexander Stroh•International Political Science…•2018

  • Justices ‘en Garde

    Open Access•Mert Moral, Efe Tokdemir•International Political Science…•2017

  • Public Trust in Latin America's Courts

    Open Access•David De Micheli, Whitney K Taylor•Government and Opposition•2024

  • The political determinants of judicial dissent

    Open Access•Lydia Brashear Tiede•European Political Science Review•2016

  • Unifying the field of comparative judicial politics

    Open Access•Arthur Dyevre•European Political Science Review•2010

  • The legitimacy‐conferring capacity of constitutional courts

    Open Access•Sebastian Sternberg, Sylvain Brouard et al.•European Journal of Political…•2022

  • Pushing Boundaries

    Open Access•Philipp Schroeder•Comparative Political Studies•2022

  • Legal Defeats—Political Wins

    Open Access•Yoav Dotan, Menachem Hofnung•Comparative Political Studies•2005

  • Veto Players and the Rule of Law in Emerging Democracies

    Open Access•Josephine T Andrews, Gabriella R Montinola•Comparative Political Studies•2004

  • Courts, Rights, and Democratic Participation

    Open Access•Rachel A Cichowski•Comparative Political Studies•2006

  • The Constitutional Adjudication Mosaic of Latin America

    Open Access•Patricio Navia, Julio Ríos-Figueroa•Comparative Political Studies•2005

  • Governmental Interventions and Judicial Decision Making

    Open Access•Vuk Radmilovic•Canadian Journal of Political…•2013

  • Courts in the Global South

    Open Access•Julio Ríos-Figueroa, Fiona Shen-Bayh•Annual Review of Political Science•2025

  • Democratization During the Third Wave

    Stephan Haggard, Robert R Kaufman•Annual Review of Political Science•2016

  • Constitutional Courts in Comparative Perspective

    Georg Vanberg•Annual Review of Political Science•2015

  • The Judicialization of Mega-Politics and the Rise of Political Courts

    Ran Hirschl•Annual Review of Political Science•2008

  • Regimes and the Rule of Law

    Gretchen Helmke, Frances Mccall Rosenbluth et al.•Annual Review of Political Science•2009

  • Testing the Effects of Independent Judiciaries on the Likelihood of Democratic Backsliding

    Open Access•Douglas M Gibler, Kirk A Randazzo•American Journal of Political…•2011

  • Judicial Independence in Unstable Environments, Argentina 1935-1998

    Matias Iaryczower, Pablo T Spiller et al.•American Journal of Political…•2002

  • Public Awareness and the Behavior of Unpopular Courts

    Open Access•Jay N Krehbiel•British Journal of Political…•2021

  • Courts against backsliding

    Open Access•Laura Gamboa, Benjamín García‐holgado et al.•Law & Policy•2024

  • The light and the dark side of judicial resistance

    Open Access•Katarína Šipulová•Law & Policy•2025

  • On the Frontlines

    Open Access•Rachel E Stern•Law & Policy•2009

  • The myth of ‘independent judiciary

    Ayşe Aslıhan Çelenk•Contemporary Politics•2016

  • Heurs et malheurs de la légalité dans les sociétés contemporaines. une sociologie politique de la « judiciarisation

    Jacques Commaille, Laurence Dumoulin•L Année sociologique•2009

  • Construção democrática e modelos de Constituição

    Open Access•Rogério Bastos Arantes, Cláudio Gonçalves Couto•Dados•2010

  • Friends of the Court

    Open Access•Ceren Belge•Law & Society Review•2006

  • Judicial Impartiality and Independence in Divided Societies

    Open Access•Alex Schwartz, Melanie Janelle Murchison•Law & Society Review•2016

  • "Constrained" Constitutional Courts as Conduits for Democratic Consolidation

    Open Access•Nancy Maveety, Anke Grosskopf•Law & Society Review•2004

  • Judicial Behavior After a Change of Regime

    Open Access•Taavi Annus, M Tavits•Law & Society Review•2004

  • Tactical Balancing

    Open Access•Diana Kapiszewski•Law & Society Review•2011

  • O judiciário e as políticas públicas no Brasil

    Open Access•Matthew M Taylor•Dados•2007

  • From Constructive Ambiguity to Harmonious Interpretation

    Open Access•Markus Böckenförde•American Behavioral Scientist•2016

  • The Limits of Judicial Independence

    Open Access•Matthew M Taylor•Journal of Latin American Studies•2014

  • Determinants of Judicial Independence

    Open Access•Eduardo Dargent, Eduardo Dargent Bocanegra•Journal of Latin American Studies•2009

  • Economic Governance on Trial

    Open Access•Diana Kapiszewski•Latin American Politics and Society•2013

  • Constitutionalism and the Presidency in the Russian Federation

    Open Access•Anders Fogelklou•International Sociology•2003

  • Judicial policies

    Bradley C Canon, Charles A Johnson•Judicial policies•1999

  • Perestroika

    Mikhail Sergeevich Gorbachev•Perestroika•1987

  • Ideology, Strategy and Party Change

    Open Access•Ian Budge, David Robertson et al.•Ideology, Strategy and Party Change•1987

  • The Rights Revolution

    Charles R Epp•Rights Revolution•1998

  • Congressional Control or Judicial Independence

    Open Access•Pablo T Spiller, Rafael Gely•The RAND Journal of Economics•1992

  • Overriding Supreme Court Statutory Interpretation Decisions

    William N Eskridge•The Yale Law Journal•1991

  • A positive theory of statutory interpretation

    Open Access•John Ferejohn, John A Ferejohn et al.•International Review of Law and…•1992

  • Simple Justice

    Richard Kluger•PsycEXTRA Dataset•1976

  • The Birth of Judicial Politics in France

    Alec Stone Sweet, Alec Stone•The birth of judicial politics in…•1992

  • Comparative Politics and Rational Choice

    Open Access•Robert H Bates•American Political Science Review•1997

  • Federalism—Russian Style

    Edward W Walker•Problems of Post-Communism•1995

  • Establishing Judicial Review? Schooner Peggy and the Early Marshall Court

    Open Access•Mark A Graber•Political Research Quarterly•1998

  • The determinants of Russian federal‐regional fiscal relations

    Alastair Mcauley•Europe Asia Studies•1997

  • Redefining centre‐regional relations in the Russian federation

    Gerald M Easter•Europe Asia Studies•1997

  • Abstract Judicial Review, Legislative Bargaining, and Policy Compromise

    Open Access•Georg Vanberg•Journal of Theoretical Politics•1998

  • The Implications for Judicial Review in the Current Legal Reforms in the Soviet Union

    Open Access•William Kitchin•Policy Studies Journal•1990

  • Judicial Review in the Socialist Legal System

    Open Access•Rhett Ludwikowski•International and Comparative Law…•1988

  • Comparative Constitutional Law

    Kristine L Olsen, Walter F Murphy et al.•The Western Political Quarterly•1978

  • Toward “Constitutionalism” in Russia

    Open Access•Mark F Brzezinski, Mark Brzezinski•International and Comparative Law…•1993

  • The Struggle for Constitutional Justice in Post-Communist Europe

    Robert Legvold, Herman Schwartz•Foreign Affairs•2000

  • Public Opinion and the U.S. Supreme Court

    Open Access•Gregory A Caldeira•American Political Science Review•1987

  • Judges, courts and policy‐making in Western Europe

    Mary L Volcansek•West European Politics•1992

  • The New Constitutional Politics of Europe

    Open Access•Martin Shapiro, Alec Stone•Comparative Political Studies•1994

  • The Legitimacy of the Court of Justice in the European Union

    Open Access•Gregory A Caldeira, James L Gibson•American Political Science Review•1995

  • Decrees, Laws, and Inter-Branch Relations in the Russian Federation

    Thomas F Remington, Stephanie S Smith et al.•Post-Soviet Affairs•1998

  • Reply to Stone Sweet

    Open Access•Georg Vanberg•Journal of Theoretical Politics•1998

  • The Prospects for Federalism in Russian Constitutional Politics

    Robert Sharlet•Publius The Journal of Federalism•1994

  • Refederalizing Russia

    Nicholas J Lynn, Andrey Vadimovich Novikov•Publius The Journal of Federalism•1997

  • Central Weakness and Provincial Autonomy

    Kathryn Stoner-Wei, Kathryn Stoner‐wei et al.•Post-Soviet Affairs•1999

  • The Russian Constitutional Court

    Robert Sharlet•Post-Soviet Affairs•1993

  • Russia's Party System

    Peter C Ordeshook•Post-Soviet Affairs•1996

  • Asymmetrical Federalism and State Breakdown in Russia

    Gail W Lapidus•Post-Soviet Affairs•1999

  • Toward a Strategic Revolution in Judicial Politics

    Open Access•Lee Epstein, Jack Knight•Political Research Quarterly•2000

  • Rules, Dispute Resolution, and Strategic Behavior

    Open Access•Alec Stone Sweet•Journal of Theoretical Politics•1998

  • Measuring Issue Salience

    Lee Epstein, Jeffrey A Segal•American Journal of Political…•2000

  • Measuring Political Preferences

    Lee Epstein, Carol Mershon•American Journal of Political…•1996

  • The Politics of Intergovernmental Transfers in Post-Soviet Russia

    Open Access•Daniel Treisman•British Journal of Political…•1996

  • Asymmetric bilateral bargaining in the new Russian Federation

    Open Access•Mikhail Filippov, Михаил Филиппов et al.•Communist and Post-Communist…•1999

  • Striking the Federal Bargain in Russia

    Open Access•Kathleen M Dowley•Communist and Post-Communist…•1998

  • The struggle for judicial independence and the transition toward democracy in Bulgaria

    Open Access•Albert P Melone•Communist and Post-Communist…•1996

  • Resource Inequalities and Litigation Outcomes in the Philippine Supreme Court

    Stacia L Haynie•The Journal of Politics•1994

  • On the Struggle for Judicial Supremacy

    Open Access•Jack Knight, Lee Epstein•Law & Society Review•1996

  • Institutional Legitimacy, Procedural Justice, and Compliance with Supreme Court Decisions

    Open Access•James L Gibson•Law & Society Review•1991

  • Understandings of Justice

    Open Access•James L Gibson•Law & Society Review•1989

  • On the Legitimacy of National High Courts

    Open Access•James L Gibson, Gregory A Caldeira et al.•American Political Science Review•1998

  • The Supreme Court and National Policy Making

    Open Access•Jonathan D Casper•American Political Science Review•1976

  • Separation-of-Powers Games in the Positive Theory of Congress and Courts

    Open Access•Jeffrey A Segal•American Political Science Review•1997

Unique citing works97
Citations per year4,04
Citation span2002 - 2025 (24)
Citation velocityrecent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 96

Tools

Open DOISci-Hub
Ethnos_APP • Open Source Project • MIT License • Frontend v2.0.0 • Privacy and Cookies • API Documentation: api.ethnos.app/docs • API Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17049435 • Frontend Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17050053 • cruz.rio.br • Expectantes Misericordiae