Abstract

JARAMILLO JASSIR, Mauricio. Ecuadorian High Courts and Democratic Consolidation after the 1998, 2008 and 2011 Reforms. colomb.int. [online]. 2013, n.79, pp.121-154. ISSN 0121-5612.

This document seeks to introduce the overlooked studied relationship between democratic consolidation and the judicial branch in the so-called young democratic regimes. The Ecuadorian case is an excellent example of this, due to the fact that it is a young regime trying to achieve democratic consolidation. Since 2008 a re-foundation tentative which has implied a major transformation of the judicial branch has been entailed. With this in mind, this article is divided into five parts. The first part studies the importance of the judicial branch in democratic consolidation. The second part briefly describes Ecuador historical context. The third part examines the re-foundation tentative that took place in Ecuador with the 1998 Constitution. The fourth part explains the Ecuadorian veto powers and how they facilitate or obstruct the reforms. Finally, the fifth part analyzes the effects that have been brought upon the democratic consolidation with the reforms made on the judicial branch by Rafael Correa through changes in the Ecuadorian constitution.

Keywords : Young democracies; democratic consolidation; veto players; judicial branch; Ecuador; Rafael Correa.

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