International Journal of Social Service and Research
Vol. 6 No. 6 (2026): International Journal of Social Service and Research

Reconstruction of the Constitutional Court's Authority from a Negative Legislator to a Positive Legislator for the Sake of Substantive Justice

Selviana Teras Widy Rahayu (Universitas Borobudur, Indonesia)
Boy Nurdin (Universitas Borobudur, Indonesia)



Article Info

Publish Date
13 Jun 2026

Abstract

The Constitutional Court of Indonesia, initially established as a negative legislator following Hans Kelsen’s doctrine, possesses the authority to annul laws that contradict the 1945 Constitution. Over the past two decades, strict adherence to this model has revealed critical limitations, as annulment of statutory norms often generates legal vacuums, uncertainty, and potential infringement on citizens’ constitutional rights. This study addresses the evolving role of the Constitutional Court as a positive legislator to ensure substantive justice, particularly when legislative delays hinder the enforcement of citizens’ rights. The research aims to analyze the legal, philosophical, and sociological foundations underpinning this transformation and evaluate the mechanisms through which the Court addresses legal deadlocks. Employing normative legal research, the study examined secondary data from statutory laws, Constitutional Court decisions, legal literature, and scholarly analyses. Data were collected through systematic library research and document review, and analyzed qualitatively using descriptive, interpretative, and conceptual techniques. Findings indicate that the Court’s conditional constitutional and unconstitutional rulings enable the formulation of transitional norms, preventing legal chaos while safeguarding substantive justice. The reconstruction of the Court’s authority allows it to act as an emergency legislator, filling normative gaps without supplanting legislative power. This approach ensures citizens’ constitutional rights are effectively protected, demonstrating a balance between judicial activism and the principles of separation of powers.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

ijssr

Publisher

Subject

Decision Sciences, Operations Research & Management Economics, Econometrics & Finance Environmental Science Languange, Linguistic, Communication & Media Law, Crime, Criminology & Criminal Justice Social Sciences

Description

International Journal of Social Service and Research is a double-blind, peer-reviewed academic journal with open access to social and scientific fields. The journal is published monthly by Ridwan Institute. International Journal of Social Service and Research provides a means for sustained ...