The Constitutional Reading Of Classical Republicanism

Applying the methods of historical analysis, positive analysis and value analysis, This paper, from the point of view of constitutional theories, is to studies and expounds wholly, deeply, systematically and concretely the basic theories about classical republicanism, the history and development of Ancient Republic, the concrete operation of the ancient republic, the harmony of classical republicanism and constitutionalism, the constitutional value of classical republicanism, and the instructions of classical republicanism to China's contemporary constitution construction . The paper consists of four chapters, twelve sections, about 60,000 words.From the angle of historical and political science, chapter one mainly adopts the historical analysis methods to exam the theory and experience of classical republicanism concretely. Republicanism was started from Ancient Greece and the core of that time was republic interests; the essential traits of Ancient-Rome was fair and common good; the Renaissant republicanism was mainly discussed how to run and reinforce the republic. The goal of classical republicanism was good life and virtue, the classical republic was made of wealth, virtue and liberty essential, it was made of agenda congress, administration organ and judicial organ. The traits of ancient republic include elite's management, giving all people the same protection, maintaining the medium character, civic virtue and the mixed constitution.Chapter two expounds the interior relationship between classical republic and constitutionalism on the basis of classical republic's theory and experience concretely. There are at least four overlapping of classical republicanism and constitutionalism: the canonizing of rule of law; the emphasis on the separated and balanced power; the outstanding of commonwealth and the care of civic virtue. These are not only the important principle and content of constitutionalism, but also are embodied and complimented in the classical republic abundantly.Chapter three mainly adopts the value analysis and gives a deep examination tothe value of classical republicanism. "Severing the people" is the basic principle of the republic, the constitutional value of "republic" is showing the highest principle of constitutionalism, that is, the people sovereignty principle; the republic is the joint undertaking of "all citizens ", the constitutional value of "joint" is showing the core principle of constitutionalism, that is, the principle of human rights, constitutionalism is the people's common career just like the republic; the republic is a brilliant undertaking of "harmonious equilibrium", the constitutional value of "harmony" sees through the important constitutional principle of power separation, that is, the doctrine of power discretion and balancing, the way of constitutional government lies in the harmonious equilibrium. Therefore, classical republicanism doctrine has far-reaching and meaningful constitutionalism value.On the basis of the reality of China's constitutional construction, chapter four believes that "republic", "joint" and "harmony" in classical republic give many benefits to constitutionalism. Republic belongs to ancient, now and the future, what's more, it can get more energy with the people's waking. The good traditions of classical republic could be the lasting principle to human being and it is worth learning of China's constitutional construction. Concretely speaking, constitutional China is the joint undertaking of the offspring of Chinese people in the constitutional government; constitutional China is the perfect combination of democracy, rule of law and republic; the civic virtue and constitutional virtue is the spiritual foundation of constitutional China; constitutional education is an important way to cultivate the civic virtue and constitutional virtue.