Preface to 'The German Constitution Turns 60: Basic Law and Commonwealth Constitution, German and Australian Perspectives'

Abstract

On 23 May 2009, the German Constitution, the 'Grundgesetz', turned 60. Not very old compared to Australia's Commonwealth Constitution or even the US-Constitution. It is perhaps an irony of history that old countries have young constitutions and young countries old ones. By any measure, 60 years of 'Grundgesetz' has been and continues to be a success story. From post war reconstruction, through the terror years of the seventies to the reunification of Germany after the demise of Communism in Eastern Europe, the 'Grundgesetz' has weathered all challenges and found deep acceptance in the German populace at large. The constitutional systems of Germany and Australia bear many differences but also some similarities. Fundamental rights and their protection figure prominently in the German 'Grundgesetz' but not so much in the Australian constitutional context. Both countries are federations to name the most prominent similarity.