The critical flaw of the ROC constitution: a Response to Frankle’s Letter

The critical flaw of the ROC constitution: a Response to Frankle’s Letter

For both the Chinese and the world, the democratic achievements of Taiwan after 1990s are a treasure that demonstrates Chinese potentiality and their right to share universal values.  But now, Taiwan's democracy has been observed to be declining since President Ma Ying-jeou took the office in 2008, which makes it more imperative than ever for all to cherish and preserve the one and only democracy system established by the people under Chinese culture.

Unfortunately, preserving Taiwan's democracy is not easy.  Few people realize that the current government design of Taiwan under ROC constitution that is based on Dr. Sun Yat-sen's theory of five separate powers could be the culprit behind the deterioration of her democracy.  

Sun's five powers are simulated democracy, though seemingly more meticulous than the western governmental design of three powers.  The three-power design is a horizontal model of checks and balances among legislative, executive, and judicial departments.  The president represents the executive power only, without surpassing the other two powers.  However, in Sun's theory, which is endorsed by the ROC constitution, places the president above all the five powers, or legislative, executive, judicial, examination and control Yuan.  No matter how the five powers check and balance each other, there is always a supreme and dominant power—the President of ROC.  Maybe that is why President Ma emphasizes the ROC constitution with strong will.

Any political system with a built-in sovereign is not worthy of the name democracy.  Taiwan demands a whole new constitution to safeguard the hard-won democracy.    revised by SW

作為民主普世價值的典範，台灣民主的倒退將是民主價值的重大挫敗，也是北京振振有詞攻擊普世價值的利器。台灣人要珍惜，世界也要珍惜。留學生說，國民黨是元凶。沒錯，但不僅如此。其實，中華民國憲法隱藏獨裁的設計，更是元凶。我是在城仲模老師的一個公開演講場合，看見他比一個手勢才恍然大悟的。中華民國憲法的五院制（五權憲法）並不是西方的三權分立。西方所熟知的三權分立，是水平的制衡，行政（總統）立法（國會）司法（法院）。總統雖對外代表國家，卻只是行政權。總統或行政權並不凌駕立法或司法權上。反過來說，中華民國憲法，最高行政權是行政院長，意即總統在五權之上。權力分立只存在五院之間，總統毫不受權力分立的制衡。所以，中華民國憲法本質是總統獨裁的，所謂的動員戡亂體制的亂政只是中華民國憲法本質的表面化，替這個憲法受過而已。中華民國憲法與中國國民黨，對於台灣的民主，以及普世民主價值非常不利。

台灣留學生Frankle的信
The critical flaw of the ROC constitution: a Response to Frankle’s Letter