The aim of this thesis is to analyse the protective function of constitutional rights as compared to the traditional defensive function. Whereas the defensive function of constitutional rights requires that the state does not interfere with and respect the constitutional rights of the individual, the protective function requires the state to act to promote and protect constitutional rights. The problematic is examined primarily through the case-law of three foreign supreme jurisdictions, i.e. the Supreme Court of the United States of America, the Federal Constitutional Court of the Federal Republic of Germany and the European Court of Human Rights. In the broader perspective the thesis aims to assess the approach taken by the Czech Constitutional Court in relation to this problematic. The protective function of constitutional rights is explored through the perspective of the individual and through the perspective of the system. The thesis is divided into four chapters. In the first chapter, the author clarifies fundamental theoretical concepts used in the thesis. The positive and negative concept of constitutional rights is closely connected to the two concepts of freedom as developed by I. Berlin in his famous essay Two Concepts of Freedom. The protective function also represents a specific legal...

The aim of this thesis is to analyse the issue of horizontal effect of human rights, i.e. whether and how they affect the fundamental rights and freedoms of individuals in private law relationships. With the development of society associated with expansion of the catalogue of human rights and with strengthening of their protection, we are witnessing infiltration of human rights into other legal areas than they were present in previously. This raises many questions about their application in such areas, especially questions about the holders of the obligations resulting from those rights. The thesis is divided into three chapters. In the introductory chapter the author describes the theoretical basis of human rights, the concept, development, and especially their specific nature and function compared to conventional legal norms, which is relevant for subsequent correct understanding of their application in horizontal relationships, which is the theme of the second chapter of the thesis. In the second chapter, the author focuses on the horizontal effect of human rights itself. The chapter describes the application of human rights in horizontal relationships, and then focuses on horizontal legal relationships and recipients of human rights as holders of the obligations resulting from those rights. The...

Constitui objeto de investigação da presente tese o suprimento das omissões legislativas inconstitucionais pelo Supremo Tribunal Federal por meio do mandado de injunção. Pretende-se demonstrar que a Constituição, ao instituir o mandado de injunção, não apenas sinalizou que as omissões inconstitucionais merecem censura, mas também estabeleceu meio próprio para que o cidadão possa impugná-las. No controle concreto das omissões legislativas inconstitucionais por meio do mandado de injunção, defende-se que há uma reserva de jurisdição constitucional do Supremo Tribunal Federal. Para demonstrar essa assertiva, a tese desenvolveu, em sua primeira parte, uma reflexão sobre o processo de aplicação do direito e a função da legislação nesse mister. A conclusão a que se chegou é de que a legislação ainda constitui uma peça relevante no processo de interpretação e aplicação do direito. Num segundo momento, tendo como eixo de investigação o princípio da separação de Poderes, observar-se-á que a Constituição de 1988 e a prática constitucional que se estabeleceu sob seu marco instituíram a jurisdição constitucional como mais um mecanismo de controle do poder político e consagraram o Supremo Tribunal como Tribunal Constitucional. Na última parte da pesquisa, busca-se demonstrar que há competência exclusiva do Supremo Tribunal Federal no controle das omissões legislativas em face da Constituição Federal. O mandado de injunção, nesse cenário, é importante instrumento de acesso direto do cidadão ao Supremo Tribunal Federal para suscitar esse controle. Essa leitura que se faz da Constituição se justifica pela identificação da omissão legislativa como fenômeno que não se confunde com o da simples ausência de lei ou de indeterminação semântica do direito, merecendo métodos próprios de enfrentamento. Além disso, essa leitura da Constituição encontra razão de ser pela forma que se concebe a jurisdição constitucional, como sendo uma atividade política prudencial, que permite que se estabeleça um diálogo institucional não apenas entre o Supremo Tribunal Federal e o Poder Legislativo, mas também entre a jurisdição constitucional prestada pelo Supremo Tribunal Federal e a jurisdição ordinária. / The thesis deals with the process of constitutional adjudication in case of legislative omissions (legal gaps that violate constitutional determinations or unconstitutionality by legislative omission). It gives special attention to the constitutional remedy called writ of injunction (mandado de injunção), which allows citizens to directly access the Brazilian Constitutional Court in case of violation of constitutional rights and freedoms that result from the lack of an enabling legislation. The research seeks to provide a theoretical guidance to understand this problem and its possible solutions. It is argued that the problem of legislative omission is fundamentally a problem about the relationship between the legislative and the courts, and about the limits to constitutional adjudication. The challenge is to guarantee the effectiveness of constitutional rights without undermining democracy (and the powers of the legislative branch). It is argued that, within the Judiciary, only the Constitutional Court has the power to review legislative omissions. The techniques to judge legislative omissions should improve the institutional dialogue between the Constitutional Court, the Legislature and the ordinary courts. I argue that the control of legislative omissions is compatible with constrained judicial review (weak judicial review). Facing a case of unconstitutional legislative omission, the Constitutional Court has a privileged but not unlimited role in interpreting the Constitution. Ruling on constitutional questions about legislative omissions, the Constitutional Court should either call for legislative action or be open to legislative revision in the short run.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-26T20:25:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Glauco Salomao Leite.pdf: 745073 bytes, checksum: f2f1cf1fc1f255da77b94c58a0eb4c90 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2007-07-23 / Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico / This work aims at researching the polemic institute of binding decision in brazilian law. In order to face the multiple questions which exist about this subject, it starts from the idea that it is inserted in the constitutional adjudication model existent in the country, contributing to the increase in the equality principle as well as the juridical safety in the application of law. This presumption is essential to comprehend the reasons why the arguments which intend to characterise the binding decision as a result of legislative activity by Federal Supreme Court are refuted, which would represent a violation to the separation of powers. Similarly, it contests the idea that the binding decision is offensive to the judicial discretion, always taking into account the duty of the Federal Supreme Court as a superior organ in the interpretation of the Constitution. From this, it analyses the legal regime which disciplines the creation, revision and cancellation processes of the binding decisions. Furthermore, it searches the consequences derived from the binding effects of such decisions. Lastly, it makes a reoccurring comparison between the binding decisions and other institutes of the foreign law / O trabalho objetiva pesquisar o polêmico instituto da súmula vinculante no direito brasileiro. Para o enfrentamento das múltiplas questões que existem a seu respeito, parte da premissa de que ele se insere no modelo de jurisdição constitucional existente no país, contribuindo para o incremento dos princípios da igualdade e da segurança jurídica na aplicação do direito. Esse pressuposto é fundamental para compreender as razões pelas quais refuta os argumentos que pretendem caracterizar a súmula vinculante como fruto de atividade legislativa por parte do Supremo Tribunal Federal, o que configuraria uma violação à separação dos poderes. Igualmente, contesta a idéia de que a súmula vinculante é ofensiva à garantia do livre convencimento do juiz, sempre levando em conta o papel do Supremo Tribunal Federal como órgão superior na interpretação da Constituição. A partir daí, adentra o regime jurídico que disciplina os processos de criação, revisão e cancelamento das súmulas vinculantes. Além disso, perscruta as conseqüências advindas do efeito vinculante de tais súmulas. Por fim, efetua uma comparação recorrente entre as súmulas vinculantes e outros institutos do direito estrangeiro

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