Constitutional Court researcher Luthfi Widagdo and Substitute Registrar Anak Agung Dian Onita speaking during a visit by students of SMK Negeri 9 Jakarta, Wednesday (16/10). Photo by Humas MK/Ganie.

JAKARTA, Public Relations of the Constitutional Court—The Constitutional Court (MK) welcomed around 255 students of SMK Negeri 9 Jakarta on Wednesday (16/10/2019). Constitutional Court researcher Luthfi Widagdo and Substitute Registrar Anak Agung Dian Onita welcomed the students at the Conference Room.

During the visit, Lutfi explained the four amendments to the 1945 Constitution in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002. Before the amendments to the 1945 Constitution, the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) was the highest state institution and the President received a mandate from the MPR. However, after the 1945 amendments, there is no longer a highest state institution. The MPR is no longer the highest state institution. The MPR, the House of Representatives (DPR), the President, the Supreme Court (MA), the Audit Board (BPK), and the Constitutional Court (MK) are equal.

Lutfi said, prior to the amendments to the 1945 Constitution, the judiciary in Indonesia was only the Supreme Court and the courts below it. After the amendments, the judiciary is the Supreme Court and the judicial body under it as well as the Constitutional Court, which was established on August 13, 2003. 

Lutfi further explained the four authorities and one obligation of the Constitutional Court. The Court\'s main authorities are to examine the law against the 1945 Constitution, to decide upon disputes of authority between state institutions, to decide upon the dissolution of political parties, and to decide upon disputes over election results. Meanwhile, the obligation of the Constitutional Court is to decide upon the opinion of the House of Representatives whether the President and/or Vice President have violated the law or committed disgraceful acts. 

Anak Agung Dian Onita said that the Constitutional Court was born from the Reformation and the nine constitutional justices represent three branches of state power. "Three people were proposed by the President, three people were proposed by the House of Representatives (DPR), and three people were proposed by the Supreme Court (MA)," she explained. In addition, the Constitutional Court building itself has nine pillars, symbolizing the number of the justices.

The Constitutional Court also opens all access to information to the public in order to create a transparent and accountable court. "On the Constitutional Court\'s website, there are minutes of the sessions, which present information on the court proceedings," she explained. 

In addition, the Constitutional Court has an application Click MK that can be downloaded via mobile phones. In the application, various kinds of information related to the Constitutional Court, both regarding hearings and general activities, can be found. (Utami/LA)

Translated by: Yuniar Widiastuti