Journal of State Democracy
Vol. 1 No. 2 (2026): Journal of State Democracy

The Shift of Legislative Power in Indonesia: A Review of the Legislative Function Within a Presidential System

Erham (Muhammadiyah University of Bima)
Miftahuddin (Muhammadiyah University of Bima)
Maskur (Muhammadiyah University of Bima)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Feb 2026

Abstract

This research examines the evolution of legislative power in Indonesia, shifting from an executive-heavy system to a legislative-heavy one post-1945 Constitutional amendments. Despite normative repositioning, contemporary practices reveal a paradoxical return to executive dominance, fueled by oversized coalitions and expedited legislative processes. This study uses a normative juridical method with statute, historical, and conceptual approaches to analyze this shift. Findings indicate that mechanisms such as the Omnibus Law and Perppu effectively marginalize checks and balances while reducing public participation to a mere formality. This phenomenon, categorized as autocratic legalism, reflects significant democratic backsliding where legal instruments are increasingly utilized for power consolidation rather than safeguard against authoritarianism. To restore constitutional balance, the study recommends institutionalizing political opposition, enhancing the DPR's independent technical capacity, and enforcing stricter judicial standards for meaningful public involvement. These measures are vital to ensuring legislative functions remain a true manifestation of popular sovereignty within modern democracy.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

JSD

Publisher

Subject

Social Sciences

Description

Journal of State Democracy (JSD) published triannually in January, May, and September, stands as a preeminent international scholarly venue dedicated to rigorous academic inquiry into the mechanisms, performance, and theoretical foundations of democratic governance and state institutions within the ...