本文旨在藉各時代的文書或說詞,勾勒出當時的憲政文化觀念是什麼,最後提出當今所應積極宣揚的憲政觀念。台灣社會自十九世紀末受日本統治後,開始接觸來自近代西方的立憲制度。日本政府爲形式上尊重明治憲政架構,利用台灣人民對近代立憲制的陌生,實施很有限的權力分立。但日治後期,台灣人菁英已知援用明治憲法之規定爭取民權,並有部分成效。來自中國、原即缺乏立憲政治經驗的國民黨,自1945年起長期-黨統治台灣。其就國家機制係以行政權爲中心,再運用以黨治國,將權力集中於黨或領袖個人。但國民黨政府出於政治上的需要,仍盡量形式上依憲法行事。隨著台灣政治民主化、自由化,乃至中央行政部門政黨輪替,權力分立及人權保障才逐漸得以落實。不過,台灣的自由民主是在充滿政治計算下出現的,且迄今僅約二十年,台灣人民在文化觀念上,尚未完全理解並接受自由民主憲政主義。唯有所有的人都堅持自由民主的價值,才能彌合當今分裂的台灣社會。
Since the advent of the Japanese rule in the late 19th century, the Taiwanese society began to contact Western constitutionalism. Base on the Meiji Constitution, the Japanese government brought the system of separation of powers to Taiwan, the degree of which was limited because the Taiwanese were not familiar with this system at the beginning. However, during the latter period of Japanese rule, some Taiwanese elite applied the Meiji Constitution to struggle for their civil rights and to a certain degree succeeded. Since 1945, the Chinese Nationalist government who lack of the experiences in constitutionalism governed Taiwan for a long time. The Nationalist government concentrated the powers to the administrative branch and then to the party or the dictator himself. Nevertheless, for the sake of political needs, the Nationalist government abided by the constitution in form. Following the democratization and liberalization of Taiwan in the late 1980s as well as the change of the governing party in 2000, the separation of powers and the protection for human rights was carried out in Taiwan. That is to a large degree resulted from the political consideration of politicians; therefore, the general public does not necessarily understand and accept the constitutionalism. The author argues, however, only the constitutionalism can resolve the problem of a divided society in Taiwan now.