本文以2009年憲法領域之實務發展為分析對象及範圍,以大法官的憲法解釋、重要立法、行政實踐及人權發展為分析對象。在憲法解釋方面,本文認為除了涉及刑事羈押及少年事件法的釋字第654、665、664號解釋外,應以釋字第656及666號解釋為本年度之代表。在解釋方法方面,大法官經常用運用法律合憲解釋方法,宣告系爭法律(部分)合憲,卻未同時為部分違憲的宣告。而其解釋,更常有曲解立法文義及意旨的方法錯誤,均值得檢討。在重要立法部分,立法院於2009年批准兩個聯合國人權公約,並制定其施行法,應最具憲法重要性。但立法院對於美國牛肉進口議定書及兩岸間各項協議等對外協議,應如何有效監督,則屬憲政實踐的一大考驗。在行政實踐上,總統於9月間同時提名行政院正、副院長的作法,亦引發違憲爭議。
This article analyzes the developments in Constitutional Law in 2009. Among the 15 constitutional interpretations rendered by the Grand Justices, both Interpretation No. 654 and 666 are considered the two leading cases. On top of both, three Interpretations, No. 654, 665 and 664, deal with important issues of criminal law. On the methods of constitutional construction, this article finds the Grand Justices often distort the textual meanings and original intents of the statutes in question in order to presume and preserve their (partial) constitutionality. Even in so doing, the Grand Justices always fail to declare the statutes unconstitutional in part. Among the legislations enacted in 2009, Legislative Yuan’s ratification of both ICCPR and ICESCR as well as the enactment of their Implementation Act are of the greatest constitutional implications. However, it remains to be watched how the Legislative Yuan could effectively supervise the conclusion and execution of external agreements, such as US-Beef Import Protocol and Taiwan-China agreements. On the executive practice, the simultaneous appointment of both Premier and Vice Premier by the President in September also aroused criticisms for violating Constitution.