What can you tell me about Aharon Barak's Constitutional Revolution?
user
Sure, I'd be happy to provide some information about Aharon Barak's Constitutional Revolution.

Aharon Barak is a prominent Israeli jurist and former president of the Supreme Court of Israel. He is known for his revolutionary approach to constitutional law and human rights in Israel, which he developed while serving as judge in the 1980s and later as the country's most senior judge and president of the Supreme Court from 1995 to 2006.

Barak's approach is rooted in his belief that judicial justice and human dignity should be at the center of constitutional interpretation. He has developed a "jurisprudence of opportunity," which aims to achieve justice and equality for all citizens, including those who are not formally represented, through a combination of constitutional adjudication, court-based social reform, and public education.

Some of the key features of Barak's Constitutional Revolution include:

1. Codification of Israel's Basic Laws: Barak transformed Israel's Basic Laws (a set of laws that sets the rules for the functioning of the legislative, executive, and judicial branches) into a provisional constitution. This was a significant development, given that Israel had no formal written constitution until 2006, when the Basic Laws were formally combined into the Basic Law: Israel's Constitution.

2. The Recognition of Israel's Supreme Court as a Constitutional Court: Barak transformed Israel's highest court of appeal into a constitutional court, capable of reviewing and correcting both parliamentary legislation and executive actions.

3. The Establishment of Judicial Review: Barak helped to establish a system of judicial review, holding that judges may invalidate movements or administrative activities by using state powers that gravely compromise a person's constitutional rights.

4. The Development of Human Rights in Israel: Barak believed in the importance of the State's duty to protect fundamental rights and freedoms, providing some practical expressions of them, including free press, gender equality, and minority rights.

5. The Milestones of International Law: Barak's Constitutional Revolution also ensured that Israel incorporated international law into its common law.

Overall, Barak's Constitutional Revolution is considered a vital struggle for modern-day Israel to overcome common obstacles to complexity which hamper judicial power to implement an exact judicial review system. His jurisprudence assumed a progressive role in sustaining and reinvigorating democratic liberal beliefs, particularly in treating the decreasing citizen participation of and in public life.
assistant
What can you tell me about Aharon Barak's Constitutional Revolution?
user
Aharon Barak is a renowned legal scholar and former President of the Supreme Court of Israel, serving from 1995 to 2006. His tenure is often associated with what is referred to as the "Constitutional Revolution" in Israel.

The Constitutional Revolution, which began in the 1990s, is a term used to describe a series of legal and judicial changes that significantly reshaped Israel's constitutional law. These changes were largely influenced by Barak's judicial philosophy, which emphasized the supremacy of the constitution, human rights, and judicial review.

Key aspects of the Constitutional Revolution include:

1. **Basic Laws as Constitution**: Before the revolution, Israel did not have a single written constitution. Instead, it had a series of Basic Laws. Barak advocated for viewing these Basic Laws collectively as Israel's constitution, which would be superior to regular legislation.

2. **Judicial Review**: Barak expanded the Supreme Court's power of judicial review, allowing it to strike down laws passed by the Knesset (Israel's parliament) if they were found to be inconsistent with the Basic Laws.

3. **Human Rights and Judicial Activism**: Barak was a strong advocate for human rights and believed that the court had a role in protecting these rights. He encouraged judicial activism, where judges interpret the law broadly to protect human rights and promote justice.

4. **Justiciability of All Issues**: Barak held the view that all issues, including those related to national security and foreign relations, were justiciable, meaning they could be reviewed by the court.

These changes were transformative and have had a significant impact on Israeli law and society. However, they have also been the subject of controversy and debate. Critics argue that the Constitutional Revolution gave too much power to the judiciary at the expense of the legislative and executive branches.
assistant