Maastricht Foundations of Law Colloquia

The Department of Foundations of Law in the Faculty of Law cordially invites you to the next meeting of our Maastricht Foundations of Law Colloquia. On 11 October, our speaker is Aileen Kavanagh. 

Abstract:

Which branch of government should we trust to protect rights in a democracy?  Some take a court-centric approach to the question, arguing that only the courts can stand firm against ‘the tyranny of the majority’.  Others urge us to put our faith in the legislature as the most dignified, diverse, deliberative and democratic forum in which we all have a say.  Rejecting the false dichotomy between courts and legislatures, this book argues that protecting rights is a collaborative enterprise between all three branches of government, where they each have a distinct but complementary role.  Grounded in a collaborative conception of the separation of powers, this book explores the manifold ways in which distinct branches must work together in a spirit of comity, collaboration and conflict-management.

The colloquium’s format is pre-read. Those attending are expected to have read the text in advance. The draft will be circulated in advance.

Convenors:
Lukasz Dziedzic
Sebastian Reyes Molina
Roland Pierik

The colloquia will take place physically and online. The Zoom link for the online sessions will be distributed later.