Eternity Clause - Germany

Germany

The German eternity clause (Ewigkeitsklausel) is Article 79 paragraph (3) of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz-GG) for the Federal Republic of Germany. The eternity clause establishes that certain fundamental principles of Germany's democracy can never be changed, even by parliament. The fundamental principles, (i.e., "the basic principles" of Articles 1 and 20), are as follows:

• Duty of all state authority: "The dignity of man is inviolable. To respect and protect it is the duty of all state authority." Art. 1;
• Acknowledgement of human rights: "The German people therefore acknowledge inviolable and inalienable human rights as the basis of every community, of peace and of justice in the world." Art. 1 Para. (2);
• Directly enforceable law: "The following basic rights bind the legislature, the executive and judiciary as directly enforceable law." Art. 1 Para. (3);
• Republic (form of government): Art. 20 Para. (1);
• Federal state (Länder): Art. 20 Para. (1);
• Social state (welfare state): Art. 20 Para. (1);
• Sovereignty of the People: "All state authority emanates from the People. Art. 20 Para. (2);
• Democratic: "All state authority is exercised by the people by means of elections and voting and by specific legislative, executive and judicial organs." Art. 20 Para. (2);
• Rule of law (Rechtsstaat): "Legislation is subject to the constitutional order. The executive and judiciary are bound by the law." Art. 20 Para. (3);
• Separation of powers: "Specific legislative, executive and judicial organs," each "bound by the law." Art. 20 Paras. (2) and (3).

The Parlamentarischer Rat (Parliamentary Council) included the eternity clause in its Basic Law specifically to prevent a new "legal" pathway to a dictatorship as was the case in the Weimar Republic with the Enabling Act of 1933.

It is not possible for any political party, any legislation or any national commitment to violate "the basic principles" of "this Basic Law" laid down in Articles 1 and 20. Furthermore, the only way that Articles 1 and 20 can be amended is through Article 146 which requires "a constitution that is adopted by a free decision of the German People."

Unlike the Weimar Constitution, which made human rights only an objective, the eternity clause and Articles 1 and 20 make very specific demands of "all state authority" regarding the "human rights", (i.e., "the basic rights" guaranteed in "this Basic Law"), and have established specific legislative, executive and judicial organs in "the constitutional order" of "this Basic Law", each with separate functions bound by the law. These are "the basic principles" of the democratic rule of law (Rechtsstaat) and the separation of powers, the principles endorsed by three United Nations resolutions.