Expert assistant to constitutional justice M. Reza Winata delivering a presentation on “Constitutional Court Towards Modern and Trusted Judiciary” to law students of Esa Unggul University of Harapan Indah, Thursday (2/9/2023). Photo by MKRI/Zahra.

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Thursday, February 9, 2023 | 14:41 WIB

JAKARTA (MKRI) — A total of 65 students from the Faculty of Law of Esa Unggul University (UEU) Harapan Indah Campus attended a brief lecture by expert assistant to constitutional justice M. Reza Winata on Thursday, February 9, 2023. In a presentation on “Constitutional Court Towards Modern and Reliable Judiciary”, these first, third, and fifth semester students were introduced to the Indonesian administration system.

The Constitutional Court, Reza explained, is a new state institution was established along with the pro-democracy movement during the Reform era through amendments to the 1945 Constitution with the MPR (People’s Consultative Assembly). It was then integrated as part of the judiciary along with the Supreme Court and the Religious Court, and was made to be on equal footing with other executive and legislative institutions in Indonesia. “So, the Constitutional Court was established to create more checks and balances in the Indonesian administration system,” he said in the hall of the Court’s second building.

Reza revealed that the Constitutional Court’s authority is regulated in Article 24C of the 1945 Constitution: to examine laws against the 1945 Constitution, settle authority disputes between state institutions, decide the dissolution of political parties, and settle disputes over general election results. It is also obligated to decide the House’s opinion of alleged violation committed by the president and/or vice president. It also has an additional authority to rule on disputes over the final votes of regional elections.

Reza then asked the students about the functions of the Constitutional Court. Gita answered, “The guardian of constitutional rights of citizens.” “The guardian of democracy,” said another student. Reza confirmed that the Court has six functions: guardian of the Constitution, guardian of democracy, guardian of the nation’s ideology, protector of human rights, protector of constitutional rights of citizens, and final interpreter of the Constitution.

He then talked about the constitutional rights of citizens guaranteed by the Constitution, which the Court formulated in 66 constitutional rights of citizens (HKWN) that can serve as a basis for the judicial review of laws in the Constitutional Court.

“And in the course of 2003 to 2023, the Court has handed down decisions related to the youth. Among them are the allocation of 20% budget for education, minimum marriageable age of 19 years, and ID card use for voting. In addition, there are also cases petitioned by students, including on motorcycle light and interfaith marriage,” said Reza.

After the Q&A session, the students were brought to the Constitution History Center on the 5th and 6th floors of the Court’s main building.

Author       : Sri Pujianti
Editor        : Lulu Anjarsari P.
Translator  : Berlian Febrina Viaraputri/Yuniar Widiastuti (NL)

Translation uploaded on 2/14/2023 15:00 WIB

Disclaimer: The original version of the news is in Indonesian. In case of any differences between the English and the Indonesian versions, the Indonesian version will prevail.

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