Dimensions of the constitution

Abstract

The article is devoted to the conceptualization of the dimensions of the constitution as an important direction of modern political and legal research. It was noted that the category “dimension” combines the objective determination of the influence of the constitution on the course of social relations with its utilitarian value.
 Given the complexity and multidimensionality of society, it can be argued that there can be many dimensions of the constitution. However, it is known that the constitution to one degree or another regulates (consolidates) all four subsystems of the social system: political, economic, social, and spiritual and cultural. Therefore, the most general, system-creating dimensions of the constitution can be only four - according to the number of subsystems of the social system. All of them can be covered by the term “general or general social dimensions”.
 The author claims that from a legal point of view, we should be primarily interested in those “internal” dimensions of the constitution that characterize the significance of the constitution for the state mechanism and the national legal system. They, again conditionally, can be called “special” or “legal”. The relevant criteria should be sufficiently universal and significant, capable of being applied to states of different levels of development and different historical eras. At the same time, it should be understood that the constitution is only a legal instrument, so it can neither be blamed for a bad political choice nor praised for a good one.
 In the broadest plan, five main legal criteria for the success of the constitution are proposed – these are its endurance (permanence), legitimacy, the ability to resolve political conflicts in a legal way, the ability to limit agency costs, as well as to promote the production of public goods.
 The opinion that according to the vast majority of the dimensions listed above, the current Constitution of Ukraine of 1996 demonstrates quite high results, being an example of a modern and effective Basic Law, is justified. The main problem facing the national Constitution in this regard is the problem of limiting the so-called “agency costs”, especially in the area of corruption prevention.