CSL 2601 Exam Questions

CSL 2601 Exam Questions 1 Explain what is meant by constitutional law? (3) Constitutional law is the aggregate (sum total) of binding rules relating to the distribution and exercise of state authority. The rules of constitutional law define the relationship between the organs of state inter se (between themselves), and between the organs of state and individuals 2 Distinguish between public and private law, and state why constitutional law is said to be part of public law (5) Public law is the branch of law which regulates the exercise of state authority in relationships of inequality. Private law, in contrast, governs the relationships between people who are on an equal footing. Constitutional law forms part of public law as it regulates public interest which comes into play in legal relationships of subordination, either between administrative authorities themselves or between administrative authorities and private individuals. 3 “The distinction between private and public law has become blurred in modern times”. Discuss this statement with particular reference to the reasons why this blurring has occurred. (6) The reason why the distinction between public and private law has become blurred is that the modern state has become very involved in private law relationships, such as the relationship between employee and employer. The new constitution expressly provides for relationships between private individuals in the Bill of Rights. It also authorizes parliament to enact legislation to prohibit unfair discrimination by private persons and companies. Finally traditional public functions such as public transport or telecommunications are being privatized and being run by semi-public corporations or private contractors. 4 Discuss the sources of constitutional law. (10) The five sources of constitutional law are:  The constitution, which means the entire body of rules governing the exercise of state authority in a particular state as well as the relationship between the citizens of the state and the organs of the state. May also refer to a written document which contains some or most of the constitutional rules.  Legislation or Statute. It is expressly left to legislator to add the flesh to the basic framework of the constitution.  Common law. English common law played an important role in the history of South African law and must therefore be taken into account. S39(2) of the Constitution requires that the courts develop the common law to bring it in line with the constitutional precepts. Downloaded by Wilfred Ngobeni () lOMoARcPSD| 2  Case law(stare decisis). Past judgments are binding and Illustrates the practical application of the constitutional principles, rules and values and tells you how a particular case alters or contributes to the development of the law.  International law. Section 39(1) of the Constitution makes it compulsory for a court to consider international law in the determination of constitutional issues.  Other sources of constitutional law a. Academic writings-Courts refer to academic opinions expressed in books and articles in journals. b. policy documents - Current government policies expressed in green papers, white papers and other documents issued by the organs of state help to shape the legislative agenda; these are often translated into legal norms. c. reports by state institution supporting constitutional democracy eg. public protector, Auditor General) d. foreign Law - 39(1)(c) of the Constitution provides that the courts may consider foreign law, that is, especially case law from other. A discretionary power to consider the laws of other countries where there is insufficient guidance available from South African sources. Is a supreme constitution and an inflexible constitution the same thing? Give reasons for your answer. (5) 5 Distinguish an inflexible constitution from a flexible one and mention an example of each. (6) A flexible constitution has the same status as ordinary laws of the land and has no special procedures for amendment. An example would be the 1961 constitution of South Africa. An inflexible constitution usually enjoys a superior status to ordinary laws of the land and requires a special amendment procedure. Eg. two-thirds majority vote. An example is the 1996 constitution of South Africa. 6 Does South Africa have a flexible or inflexible constitution? Why? (3) South Africa has an inflexible constitution as it enjoys superior status to the ordinary laws of the land and its amendment provided for in s74(1) – (3) requires special procedures and special majorities. S1(c) states that one of the values South Africa is founded upon is the ‘supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law’. (a) Are the following statements true or false? Give reasons for your answer. (i) An inflexible constitution enjoys the same status as the other laws of the country and does not require any special procedures for its amendment. (5) False. 1. It enjoys a higher status than the ordinary laws of the land. 2. It requires special procedures and majorities for amendment. 3. This makes it harder for the majority to effect amendments to the Constitution for self serving purposes. 4. Example: the South African Constitution of 1996. Downloaded by Wilfred Ngobeni () lOMoARcPSD| 3 7 Distinguish between a supreme constitution and one that is not supreme. Give an example of each. (5) A supreme constitution ranks above all other laws of the state and is usually but not always inflexible. Any law which is inconsistent with it will be declared invalid (referred to as the Grundnorm, against which all other legislation is tested for validity).An example of a supreme constitution is the 1996 constitution of South Africa. On the other hand a constitution that is not supreme does not enjoy any special status to other laws in the land and the government can declare laws which conflict with the basic principles of the constitution. An example of a constitution that is not supreme is Britain. 8 Explain why South Africa has a supreme constitution. (3) The South African constitution is supreme because S 1(c) lists the supremacy of the constitution as a founding value. Section 2 states that the constitution is the supreme law of the republic. Section 172(1)(a) requires the courts to declare any law that is not consistent with the constitution invalid in terms of its inconsistency. 9 Explain the difference between autochthonous and allochthonous constitutions. (5) Autochthonous constitutions are said to be indigenous as opposed to borrowed. Reactive constitutions which aim to resolve specific issues of the past are indigenous. Eg South Africa There are also constitutions which maintain continuity with established norms and tradition which are also indigenous. Eg. Netherlands Finally there are superimposed constitutions whose contents are largely unrelated to the history of the country; this is an example of an allochthonous constitution eg Zimbabwe. It is often difficult to find an example of a constitution that fits distinctly into either category. For instance the 1996 constitution of South Africa is considered to be an indigenous constitution as it was drafted in the light of South Africa’s history, but at the same time borrowed on the experience of other countries and was influenced by international law. Distinguish between autochthonous and allochthonous constitutions. Give an example of each. (5) Autochthonous constitution Refers to indigenous or home grown constitutions. This means that the constitution is a result of context (political/economic/social/historical). An example would be the 1996 Constitution or the German Constitution. Allochthonous constitution Refers to a borrowed constitution. Has no bearing on context. Inherited from another state. An example would be Zimbabwe. (2) Discuss the 1996 Constitution in the light of the following: (a) flexibility/inflexibility (b) whether it is autochthonous or allochthonous In each case, your answer needs to include the efinition of these concepts.(10) Downloaded by Wilfred Ngobeni () lOMoARcPSD| 4 10 Discuss the following concepts: a) state (5) b) government (5) c) sovereignty (5) a) A state is defined by the following requirements:  a specific geographically defined territory  a community of people who live in that territory  a legal order in which the community is subject  an organized system of government which is able to uphold the legal order  a measure of separate political identity b) The government is a temporary bearer of state authority, who represents the state at a particular time. Initially government did not have a political connotation and was associated with the judicial function. Gradually government became a general term covering all functions and organs of state. Today government relates primarily to the executive function with particular bearing on the formation and implementation of policy. c) A sovereign state defines a state which is autonomous and independent and therefore not subject to the authority of any other state. It was historically used to refer to the monarch of a country, however in recent times it has been associated with the sovereignty of the people to indicate that the power of government rests in the hands of the people. This gave rise to the concept that parliament is sovereign, which meant that legislative authority was vested in parliament and it could enact any law no matter how reasonable or unjust and the courts could not challenge this decision. You have been approached by Depp who tells you that he has been reading the 1996 Constitution and has come across section 33(2) which says that national legislation must be enacted to give effect to this provision. He says that he does not know what this means. Depp would like to know the effect of this provision and whether there are similar provisions in other parts of the Constitution. section 3(3) of the Constitution provides that national legislation (Parliament) must provide for the acquisition, loss and restoration of citizenship. In order to give effect to this constitutional provision, Parliament enacted the South African Citizenship Act 88 of 1995. section 184(4) of the Constitution and the Human Rights Commission Act 54 of 1994, which gives effect to this constitutional provision. {There are 10 others check} Do you think the following persons or bodies would qualify as an ``organ of state'' for the purposes of the Constitution? (1) Unisa, in deciding to expel a student Unisa qualifies as an organ of state as it performs a public function ie providing education to the public and this is exercised in terms of legislation ie. The Unisa Act Downloaded by Wilfred Ngobeni () lOMoARcPSD| 5 (2) A private school, in deciding not to accept certain learners on the ground that they do not profess a particular religious belief What majorities are required to amend different provisions of the Constitution? (4) In this regard, section 74 of the Constitution provides specifically that: (1) Section 1 and this subsection may be amended by a bill passed by : (a) the National Assembly, with a supporting vote of at least 75 percent of its members; and (b) the National Council of Provinces, with a supporting vote of at least six provinces. (2) Chapter 2 may be amended by a bill passed by : (a) the National Assembly, with a supporting vote of at least two-thirds of its members; and (b) the National Council of Provinces, with a supporting vote of at least six provinces. (3) Any other provision of the Constitution may be amended by a bill passed : (a) by the National Assembly, with a supporting vote of at least two-thirds of its members; and (b) also by the National Council of Provinces, with a supporting vote of at least six provinces, if the amendment (i) relates to a matter that affects the Council; (ii) alters provincial boundaries, powers, functions or institutions; or (iii) amends a provision that deals specifically with a provincial matter. {answer to long, check} (3) Why is a greater majority required to amend certain provisions of the Constitution (such as s 1)? (2) S1 forms part of the founding provisions of the constitution and is therefore among the most important. For this reason it needs to be protected against overhasty or politically expedient amendment. (4) What special procedures are in place to prevent Parliament from amending the Constitution without giving the matter due consideration? (5) (how to word this Q for only 5 marks) In terms of s74(4)-(8): (4)A Bill amending the Constitution may not include provisions other than constitutional amendments and matters connected with the amendments. (5) At least 30 days before a Bill amending the Constitution is introduced must (a)publish in the national Government Gazette (b) submit those particulars to the provincial legislatures for their views; and (c) submit, those particulars to the Council for a public debate, if the proposed amendment is not an amendment that is required to be passed by the Council. (6) must submit any written comments received from the public and the provincial legislatures- (a) to the Speaker for tabling in the National Assembly; and . Downloaded by Wilfred Ngobeni () lOMoARcPSD| 6 (b) in respect of amendments referred to in subsection (1), (2) or (3) (b), to the Chairperson of the National Council of Provinces for tabling in the Council. (7) A Bill amending the Constitution may not be put to the vote in the National Assembly within 30 days of- (a) its introduction, if the Assembly is sitting when the Bill is introduced; or (b) its tabling in the Assembly, if the Assembly is in recess when the Bill is introduced. (8) If a Bill referred to in subsection (3) (b), or any part of the Bill, concerns only a specific province or provinces, the National Council of Provinces may not pass the Bill or the relevant part unless it has been approved by the legislature or legislatures of the province or provinces concerned.{Answer too long} (2) Explain the relationship between constitutional supremacy and the courts' power to test the constitutionality of legislation. (2) One of the founding values of SA is the Supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law s1(c). Law or conduct inconsistent with it is invalid, and the obligations imposed by it must be fulfilled.s1 (2) The courts must declare that any law or conduct that is inconsistent with the Constitution is invalid to the extent of its inconsistency.172 (1) (a) (3) Explain the relationship between constitutional supremacy and an inflexible constitution. (3) A supreme constitution that is flexible: (1) Enjoys the same status as the other laws of the country. (2) Requires no special procedure for amendment. And it is the highest law of the land. An Inflexible constitution that is not supreme (1) Enjoys superior status to the ordinary laws of the land. (2) Requires a special amendment procedure eg, a two thirds majority vote. Which ultimately goes against its non-supremacy. {Check answer} Look at the cartoon on pg 17 SG. (1) Do you think that the particular state, to which this cartoon refers, is governed by a supreme constitution? Explain your answer in detail. A supreme constitution: (1) Ranks above all other laws in a state. (2) Any law which is inconsistent with it will be declared invalid. (3) Is usually (but not always!) inflexible. In the cartoon president Mugabe is giving his personal guarantee for a free and fair election. If the constitution was supreme it will be the highest law that has to be obeyed, the president does not have to guarantee freedom and fairness because he is not the highest law, the constitution is, if it is supreme. The president ordering more restrictions on media and opposition parties is indicative of his personal power and that the constitution is not supreme.