美國的制憲－大妥協的產物

U.S. Constitution: A Product of Great Compromise

紀舜傑(Shun-jie Ji)

《台灣國際研究季刊》 16卷2期 (2020/07) Pp. 79-98

摘要

美國的憲法是人類第一部成文憲法，也是We the people第一次寫入人類的憲法中，它也產生前所未見的國家治理模式。面對關於美國憲法各種不同的評價，本文希望能詳加檢視美國制憲的過程與意義，驗證一般的刻板印象或是既有的粗略概念，同時希望能找出新的啟發。制憲是一個民族性格與民主性格的養成。美國制憲的大妥協確立美國立國精神，認清利益必然衝突的本質。只有制定有輸有贏的機會和制度才能長治久安。妥協是爲了讓競爭繼續，爲自己也讓別人有翻本的機會。另外，美國制憲給我們的啓示是，除了底層人民的熱情與決心外，上層菁英的智慧與論述能力更是成功的關鍵。

關鍵字

大陸會議 ； 制憲會議 ； 邦聯條款 ； 大妥協

並列摘要

The U.S. Constitution is recognized as the first written constitution in republic form of human history. It has received different comments, from miracle, masterpiece, to a rough negotiation. The purpose of this paper is to explore the historical background of this constitution and to discuss the making process and all controversial issues involved. The findings suggest that mainly because of the great compromise achieved in the Constitutional Convention which included compromises of big and small states, north and south states. Through the great compromise, the U.S. government was produced and started an experiment that lasted more than three centuries.

並列關鍵字

Continental Congress ； Constitutional Convention ； Articles of Confederation ； Great Compromise

參考文獻

Billias, George. 2009. American Constitutionalism Heard Round the World, 1776-1989: A Global Perspective. New York: New York University Press.

Bowen, Catherine Drinker. 1986. Miracle at Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention May–September 1787. Boston: Back Bay Books.

CNN Library. 2018. “US Constitution Fast Facts.” September 20 (https://edition.cnn.com/2013/10/31/us/u-s-constitution-fast-facts/index.html) (2019/3/9)

Dahl, Robert. 2001. How Democratic Is the American Constitution? New Haven: Yale University Press.

Friedman, Thomas L. 2019. “The Two Codes Your Kids Need to Know.” New York Times, February 12 (https://www.nytimes.com/2019/02/12/opinion/college-boardsat-ap.html) (2019/3/9)