Comparative analysis of models of special legal regimes

Abstract

The author deepens the knowledge about the models of special legal regimes and their historical and philosophical basis. The author highlights the genesis and characteristics of the models of special legal regimes: classical, «state of siege» and «marital law», which are the basis of national legal systems of modern states. The author identifies the common and distinctive features of the «state of siege» of the Romano-Germanic legal family and the «marital law» of the Anglo-Saxon legal family. The author establishes that the models of all special legal regimes are aimed at protecting the public interest and legitimate restriction of human rights and freedoms in emergency circumstances. The author points out that respect for the rule of law and legal procedures is an important characteristic of the «state of siege» which provides for specific constitutional regulation of extraordinary powers of the authorities, while «marital law» is included in the general legal order with enhanced control of the judicial branch. It is proved that a common unifying feature of these regimes is that they all recognize the fiduciary obligations of the State to protect such values as the constitutional order, sovereignty, territorial integrity, life and health of the population, and environmental safety. Both models are characterized by attention to the need to justify and proportionality of human rights restrictions. The author further develops the position that the fiduciary basis of relations between a person and the State when enacting special legal regimes is directly determined by the range of legal guarantees which the State undertakes to introduce and observe both at the international and national levels. At the same time, it is proved that none of the proposed models offers effective and universal measures to ensure human rights in the event of an emergency. The author establishes that the key difference between the «state of siege» and «marital law» models lies in different approaches to the consolidation and implementation of legal guarantees of human rights in the course of special legal order.