Fundamental research for Constitutional Interpretation as a Synthesis of Pluralistic and Multi-Layered Interpretations

2020 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 17K03352
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Public law
• Research Institution: Nagoya University
• Principal Investigator: OKOCHI Minori 名古屋大学, 法学研究科, 教授 (20345838)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Keywords: 憲法解釈 / 司法 / 違憲審査 / アメリカ憲法

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In the U.S., "departementalism" has been advocated, which considers that each of the legislative, judicial, and executive branches has its own authority to interpret the Constitution and that interpretation is formed through the interaction of these branches, rather than viewing constitutional interpretation as solely the action of the judiciary. In Japan as well, it is observed that the constitutional interpretation by the political branches as expressed in the form of government interpretation and the public opinion have no small influence on constitutional practice, including trials. It can be said that constitutional interpretation is formed not only by judicial decisions but also by the multilayered accumulation of constitutional interpretations by multiple actors, but the circumstances of its formation differ between Japan and the U.S., which can be attributed to the differences in the authority and social status of each sector.

Free Research Field

憲法

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

憲法が現実に果たす機能はその意味内容によって規定され、憲法の意味内容は、解釈（憲法解釈）によってはじめて明らかになる。従来、日本では、憲法解釈はもっぱら司法の作用と捉えられてきた。しかし、政府解釈に代表される政治部門による憲法解釈や世論に示される「国民の憲法意識」も憲法解釈の一種であり、現実の憲法の意味内容は、これら多元的アクターによる憲法解釈が、多層的に積み重なり、相互に影響し合う中で、醸成されている。本研究は、日米比較を通じて、多元的・多層的憲法解釈の実相を明らかにするものである。