Executive Dominance in Times of Crisis: Governing by Decree and the Pandemic

by Camila Almeida Porfiro

Overview

In recent times, there has been a growing dominance of executives centered on the figure of a central leader, while parliaments, which should be the focus of political power, are being marginalized. This development reflects a historical process that has only worsened with the COVID-19 emergency. This book argues that the frequent use of unilateral acts by the executive, exacerbated in times of emergency, can lead to a process of serious democratic erosion. It holds that the unlimited expansion of unilateral action is incompatible with the principle of separation of powers and the basic elements of a constitutional democracy. The judicial and legislative branches, especially in times of crisis, must exercise firm control over executive acts. It puts forward the case that they should limit abuses and risks to democracy based on parameters that are attentive to democratic principles, institutional capacities, and the protection of fundamental rights. In this scenario, the book offers a contemporary analysis of executive dominance in Brazil, Italy, and Germany, particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. It engages with traditional literature on the subject while providing a novel perspective, particularly in relation to the Global South. The book will be of interest to academics and researchers working in the areas of constitutional law and politics, administrative law, and international and comparative law.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781041006213
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/04/2025
Series:	Routledge Research in Public Law
Pages:	164
Product dimensions:	6.12(w) x 9.19(h) x (d)

About the Author

Camila Almeida Porfiro holds a PhD in public law from the University of Rome Tor Vergata and a master’s degree in public law from the State University of Rio de Janeiro (UERJ). She served as a law clerk at the Brazilian Supreme Court (STF) and has been a visiting researcher at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (LMU). Additionally, she was a visiting fellow at the Human Rights Center of the University of Essex.

Table of Contents

Introduction. 1. The Executive Dominance and the Marginalization of Parliaments: Governing by Decree. 2. When do Presidents and Prime Ministers rule by Decree? 3. Justifying Uilateral Executive Action 4. Unilateral Executive Action in Times of Crisis 5. Checks and Balances during the COVID-19 Pandemic 6. Constitutional Limits of Decrees in Times of Emergency 7. The legal responses to COVID-19 in Italy, Brazil, and Germany. Conclusions.