Comparative Studies of Japanese and U.S. Constitution on Freedom of Thought and Conscience

2022 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K13513
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 05020:Public law-related
• Research Institution: Kumamoto Gakuen University
• Principal Investigator: MORIGUCHI Chihiro 熊本学園大学, 社会福祉学部, 准教授 (70808534)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2023-03-31
• Keywords: 憲法 / 思想・良心の自由 / 信教の自由 / 修正1条 / 人権の武器化

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the United States,which are not found in the constitutional text concerning freedom of thought and conscience, constitutional guarantees of secular conscience have been made through the guarantees of the freedom of religious and freedom of expression under the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. This study suggests that in the U.S., dualistic doctrin of restrictions and protections have been established. And this study conpare the doctrins of U.S. Supreme Court about religious freedom and freedom of secular conscience with the case law of the Supreme Court of Japan.

Free Research Field

憲法

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

アメリカ連邦最高裁の宗教的自由へのアプローチと、それをめぐる議論状況を明らかにすることができた。特に、一般的・中立的な法からの義務免除をめぐる三つのアプローチ――価値論的アプローチ、平等アプローチ、拡張的アプローチ――の位置づけを明らかにし、日本の議論にも応用可能な普遍性をもつ法理として法義務免除を位置付けることが可能であることを明らかにした。