Attributes of the Romanian State. Special View on the Rule of Law

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The attributes of a state constitute its defining features and principal values of its constitutional order, which differentiate or resemble it as a political-legal physiognomy from other states. The rule of law, pluralism, democracy, civil society are universal values of contemporary political thought and practice and can be found normatively expressed in international documents, but also in the Romanian Constitution. Starting from the specialised doctrine and jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court of Romania in the matter, this article analyses the attributes of the Romanian state enshrined by the Constitution, respectively: rule of law; welfare state; pluralistic state; democratic state. In this study, a special attention is dedicated to the rule of law, considering the dangers that threaten it in the current period. Legislative inflation, superficial legislation, increasing the role of the Executive in the field of legislation at the expense of Parliament, the intrusions of politicians into the sphere of judicial power are just some of the dysfunctions of the Romanian rule of law. In this context, this article highlights the essential role of the Constitutional Court in guaranteeing and respecting the requirements of the rule of law. Through its jurisprudence, an important contribution is made not only in the correct interpretation and application of constitutional norms, but also in their elaboration. Under the influence of the specific socio-political factors in each country, the pressures of the Union and international law, the rule of law cannot reach perfection, but it remains a fundamental constitutional necessity whose primary purpose is to ensure the rights and freedoms of citizens. Keywords: attributes of the state, rule of law, the jurisprudence of the Constitutional Court of Romania, dysfunctionalities of the Romanian rule of law.