State Principles

State Principles in the National Constitutions

Constitutions characterize their system of government by state principles. Contemporary states all subscribe to democracy in an unspecific and broad sense that encompasses at least some extent of democracy in the specific ruled-by-the-people sense plus some features of the rule of law. More detailed principles are currently evolving. The rule of law already consists of a large number of sub-principles.

• Sovereignty
• Democracy
• Rule of Law
• Separation of Powers
• Law as a Limit for State Activity
• Law as the Basis of State Activity
• Effective Protection of Basic Rights
• Judicial Independence
• State Activity in Good Faith
• State Activity in the Public Interest
• Principle of Proportionality
• Judicial Review
• Republicanism
• Constitutional Monarchy
• Federalism: For example, the Germany Constitution states that the Federal Republic of Germany is a democratic and social federal state.
• Subsidiarity
• Social State
• Secular State