Constitutional Justice Wahiduddin Adams and Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah opening XII Western Regions Constitutional Debate, Thursday (4/4) at Bengkulu University, Bengkulu. Photo by Humas MK/Agung.

BENGKULU, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court—Constitutional Justice Wahiduddin Adams opening the National Seminar and the 12^th Indonesian University Student Constitutional Debate Competition of 2019 for Western Regions on Thursday (4/4/2019) at Bengkulu University, Bengkulu. At the seminar, Constitutional Justice Wahiduddin Adams spoke on "Strategic Issues and Issues of Judicial Review of Legislation in the Indonesian State Administration System." Attending the seminar were Bengkulu Governor Rohidin Mersyah, Bengkulu University Rector Ridwan Nurazi, Bengkulu University Law Faculty Dean Herawan, and Head of Public Relations and Protocol of the Constitutional Court Heru Setiawan.

Justice Wahiduddin said two institutions have judicial review authority—the Supreme Court pursuant to Article 24A Paragraph 1 of the 1945 Constitution and the Constitutional Court pursuant to Article 24C Paragraph 1 of the 1945 Constitution. The amendment to the 1945 Constitution changed legislation formation, previously carried out by the President, the House of Representatives, and the Regional Representatives Council, now is the authority of the House and President.

"Back then the House was considered as not having as adequate facilities and resources as ministries under the President. Legislators in the House of Representatives (DPR) and the Regional Representatives Council (DPD) are still improving in terms of quality and quantity," he said before around 300 participants consisting of the Bengkulu University academic community and participants of the National Debate Competition.

According to Wahiduddin, the authority of the Constitutional Court in examining laws against the 1945 Constitution is a check and balances mechanism. Judicial review of laws against the 1945 Constitution has a major influence on people\'s lives. "The function of judicial review is philosophical, in order to revive constitutional values among the people," he added.

He also revealed that judicial review could be a parameter of the standards of the law. Many legal parameters can be seen in the Constitutional Court Decisions.

In the Western Regional Constitutional Debate, 24 universities are participating. Prior to the competition, participants followed the national seminar. The Western Regional Constitutional Debate Competition will be held on Thursday-Saturday (4–6/4/2019). (LA/AS/Yuniar Widiastuti)