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Sieyès versus Bicameralism

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Type

Article

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Authors

Rubinelli, Lucia 

Abstract

jats:titleAbstract</jats:title>jats:pBicameralism is traditionally considered necessary to the principle of the limitation of power and, as such, a key feature of the liberal constitutional state. Yet the history of the French Revolution reveals that this has not always been the case and that bicameralism's relationship to liberal constitutionalism is more complex than is traditionally assumed. This article will discuss how the Abbé Sieyès, one of the founding fathers of modern constitutionalism, rejected bicameralism not only because it was contrary to the revolutionary principle of equality, but also because it did not actually succeed at limiting power. Even worse, bicameralism would threaten the constitutional system by forcing the legislative power into procedural impasses that would eventually open the way to despotism. Putting Sieyès's claims in historical perspective, the paper aims to offer some historical nuance and insights into bicameralism's relationship to liberal constitutionalism.</jats:p>

Description

Keywords

4408 Political Science, 44 Human Society

Journal Title

The Review of Politics

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

0034-6705
1748-6858

Volume Title

81

Publisher

Cambridge University Press (CUP)