Principles of a Normative Constitution

About the Book

What makes a constitution truly “good”? What essential ideas and principles
should such a constitution embrace? In Principles of a Normative Constitution,
Ruichong Xu embarks on an insightful exploration of what a “good” constitution
should look like.
Xu challenges conventional ideas, arguing that promoting citizens’ flourishing
is the ultimate source of state legitimacy and advocating for constitutional
frameworks that are both morally justifed based on human flourishing and
e­ffective in practice.
The book examines key principles such as human dignity, constitutionalism,
human rights, separation of powers, the rule of law, democracy, and the
constitutional litigation system. By including lessons from history, including
China’s tumultuous Cultural Revolution and the 1990s North Korean famine,
and a comparative study on constitutional systems of di­ erent countries,
particularly the People’s Republic of China, the United States, the Federal
Republic of Germany, the Russian Federation, and the United Kingdom, the
book o­ffers a broader perspective and provides important insights as to how
“good” constitutional order and institutions should be designed.
Whether you’re a student of law, politics, or philosophy, a policymaker, or
simply a curious reader, Principles of a Normative Constitution will inspire you
to rethink the role of governance in fostering a better society and have a clearer
vision as to what a good constitution and a good state system should look like.

About the Author

Born in Ningbo, China, in 2004, Ruichong Xu (徐睿
冲, Richard) developed a strong interest in law and
political philosophy when he was in high school, at
United World College, Changshu China. He has
a prominent interest in jurisprudence, theories and
practices of constitutionalism, criminal law, international
law, and marriage and family law. In 2023, Ruichong
published his   rst book, entitled 《法律小谈》(A
Brief Talk About the Law, ISBN: 978-1-64695-308-0.
Chinese Publishing House Inc.)
Ruichong Xu is an Echols Scholar at the University of Virginia in the Class
of 2027.