A Comparative Analysis of the Four Draft Constitutions Published Before the Romanian Constitution of 1923 Sacro-sanctae Scientiae Indepingibilis Imago (1700)

Abstract

In what concerns the Romanian constitutionalism following the First World War, the drafts of the Constitution (D. Ioanițescu, Romul Boilă, Constantin Berariu, and C. Stere) reflect four differ ent approaches. They tried to innovate in accordance with the assumed political ideology, while mostly keeping the structure and broad principles of the Constitution of 1866. In the proposal made by Constantin Stere, one can see, for instance, the concepts of administrative decentraliza tion and regionalization as well as the idea of a unicameral parliament. Likewise, the Liberal pro posal is the only one that did not respect the structure of the 1866 Constitution and placed the issue of state powers before that of citizens’ rights. Another idea that can be highlighted emerges from the ideas of Romul Boilă, who does not state the unitary character of the Romanian state, considering that this fact “should not be declared, but it must exist.” Yet, due to the political changes that were occurring at the time in Romania, the Liberal vision prevailed.