共和國民主的理念前提：論當代德國憲法預設理論對於自由民主憲政所需精神基礎的思考

The Ideal Foundations of Republic Democracy: On the Thinking about Spiritual Foundation of the Constitutional Order of Liberal Democracy in German Theory of the Conditions of the Constitution

本文旨在探討德國憲法預設理論對於自由民主憲政所需精神基礎的思考。德國憲法預設理論是當代重要的憲法理論，其理論目的在於探討自由民主憲政秩序所需要的精神文化基礎。本文將由思想史的研究方法出發，探討憲法預設理論的問題意識與思考方式的思想史背景，並分析憲法預設理論針對自由民主憲政基礎所須之精神文化基礎。本文指出，當代憲法預設理論受到威瑪共和時期國家學與法政理論思考的影響，認為憲法必須要依賴特定的精神文化基礎才能良好的運作，落實各種憲法原則與價值；同時Carl Schmitt在威瑪共和晚期對於民主憲政秩序危機的分析，也構成憲法預設理論重要的問題意識。
憲法預設理論基於支持自由民主的議會體制，指出國家組織的存在對民主的意義；也提出共和國民主理論，來解決如何透過自由民主的憲法制度來克服當代多元權力體制對於民主的挑戰。憲法預設理論也指出，職務原則是自由民主國家重要的精神文化基礎，職務原則要求國家公職人員必須依公益行事，服從憲法與法律，藉由此一要求，憲法預設理論希望克服政黨政治的弊病。憲法預設理論指出國家行為正當性的依據，要求國家能落實公益來獲取人民支持。而他們的觀點也有助於面對當前民粹政治所帶來的民主危機。

This article tries to discuss the theory of the conditions of the constitution (Theorie der Voraussetzungen der Verfassung) in German constitutional theory, and its thinking on the spiritual foundation of the constitutional order of liberal democracy. This article analyzes this theory with the method of idea history, in order to explore the historical background and problem consciousness of the theory of the conditions of constitution. It also analyzes how the theory of the conditions of constitution explains the spiritual and cultural foundations for the constitutional order of liberal democracy.
This article points out that the contemporary theory of the conditions of constitution is influenced by the theories of the state (Staatslehre) and legal theory during the Weimar Republic (especially by the anti-positivism in the Weimar Republic). It is believed that the constitution must rely on a specific spiritual and cultural foundation. Without these foundations, the liberal democracy and its constitution can’t operate well. These foundations are also the keys to the successful implementation of various constitutional principles. At the same time, Carl Schmitt’s analysis of the crisis of the democratic constitutional order in the late Weimar Republic period also constituted an important awareness of issues the contemporary theory of the conditions of the constitution.
The contemporary theory of the conditions of constitution is based on supporting the parliamentary system of liberal democracy and points out the importance of state organizations and processes for the liberal democracy; it also proposes the theory of republican democracy to solve the problem of how to overcome the challenges of contemporary pluralistic regimes to the liberal democratic constitutional system. The theory of the conditions of constitution also points out that the principle of office (Amtsprinzip) is an important spiritual and cultural foundation for a liberal democratic country. The principle of office requires that officials must act according to the public interest and obey the constitution and the law. Through this requirement, contemporary theory of the conditions of constitution hopes to overcome the bad influence of party politics. Contemporary theory of the conditions of constitution also tries to point out the basis for the legitimacy of state actions and requires the state to implement public interest to gain people's support. This theory will help us to think about how to solve democratic crisis, which is brought by the contemporary populist politics.