2016年憲法發展回顧

Developments in the Law in 2016： Constitutional Law

本文從憲法解釋、重要立法及重要事件等三個面向，回顧2016年的憲政發展。在2016年初所舉行的立法委員及總統大選中，臺灣誕生了第一位女總統，也進行第三次政黨輪替。除了行政及立法兩權在結構上的變動之外，在司法權方面，亦有七位新任的司法院大法官，其中兩位並兼司法院院長及副院長。這些憲政權力結構上的變動，對2016年及接下來的憲政發展，均有重要的影響。在憲法解釋面向上，司法院大法官在2016年作成9件解釋，絕大多數涉及人民訴訟權保障的深化。在重要立法的面向上，則包括轉型正義的起步、民主政治的健全、及人權保障的強化。至於重要的憲政事件，則有司法院大法官的提名與任命、總統正式向原住民道歉、以及死刑執行時點的爭議。

This Article looks into the constitutional development of 2016 in three aspects including constitutional interpretations, important legislation, and key events of constitutional importance. In the beginning of 2016, Taiwan held both presidential and legislative elections, and witnessed the inauguration of the first woman president as well as the third regime change of government powers since the democratization began in the late 1980s. In addition to the structural transformation to the executive and legislative powers, seven new Grand Justices were appointed to the Constitutional Court, two of whom concurrently served as the President and Vice President of the Judicial Yuan in charge of judicial administration. These fundamental structural changes to the three branches of the government have had significant impacts on constitutional developments in 2016 and subsequent years to come. This Article finds that the majority of the nine interpretations made by the Constitutional Court in 2016 were concerned with the advancement of the right to fair trial and due process, the important legislation included those regarding transitional justice, democracy and electoral laws, and human rights protection for the marginalized, and that the key events of constitutional importance were surrounded with the appointment of new Grand Justices to the Constitutional Court, presidential apologies made to the indigenous peoples, and the controversial timing in death penalty execution.