憲法解釋中的家庭圖像與其規範地位

Defining the Family and Its Constitutional Protection

傳統以來，家庭在社會、經濟與法律制度上具有重要的地位。但是，家庭並非固守著一成不變的傳統樣貌，隨著社會變遷，我國家庭的組成、結構以及運作等也不斷地變化與轉型。在此過程中，家庭的地位以及家庭成員之權益保障，已經成為憲法人權保障的重要課題。我國憲法對家庭之地位並無明文規定，不過，經由大法官對婚姻與家庭相關議題所陸續作出的憲法解釋，已經逐漸描繪出憲法中的家庭圖像，其意義與內涵如何，值得吾人討論。本文首先討論與家庭議題相關的大法官解釋，以勾勒出憲法所保障的家庭樣貌；其次，再由我國社會變遷與家庭型態發展之實際需求，以及國際公約中對於家庭所認定的範圍與所提供的保障，對我國憲法上的家庭圖像、保障程度與內涵進行分析以及檢討。最後建議憲法對於家庭的保障，應在制度保障的基礎上朝向具有主觀公權利性質的家庭權發展，並在婚姻家庭圖像之外，正視多元家庭之價值與保障，以適切因應社會變遷發展，維護人格自由與人性尊嚴。 Taiwanese families are changing. They have become smaller, egalitarian and diversified. The continuing low birth rates and the high divorce rates have changed the family in size and structure. The patriarchal family has gradually lost its appeal in law as well as in reality. Although the nuclear family, consisting of married couples and their children, remains popular, the nontraditional families, such as single parent households, married couples without children and unmarried cohabitation, have been increasing over the last twenty years. The changing face of the Taiwanese families is not merely a social phenomenon. It raises questions and concerns over the Constitutional protection of the family and the individual's right to family and intimate relationships. The Constitution does not mention ＂the family＂ in its text. Nevertheless, the Grand Justices have rendered a series of important Interpretations addressing the issues regarding the constitutional/legal status of the family, the relations among family members, as well as legal regulations over marriage and family. After examining these decisions, the author suggests that a portrayal of the ＂constitutional family＂ has emerged. It was the institution of marital family that enjoyed the spcial constitutional status and protection. The constitutioinal protection of martial family is a double edged sword. As the Constitutional Court insisted on perserving and protecting the institution of martial family, the nontraditnoal families or alternative families have been ignored or suffered. The author calls for the right to family or the freedom of family to be recognized as fundemental, allowing the individual to challenge the monopoly of marital family and the Constitutional Court to review laws and polices in a new framework beyond the tradtional marital family. In addition, it is urged to adopt the functional approach in defining the concpet of the family to respond to social change, accomendate nontraditional and alternative families, and promote the individual's dignity.