Unamendability is a growing constitutional trend. But is it compatible with democratic values? Does unamendability force future generations into a necrocracy, the ‘dead hand’ grip of those that wrote the constitution? Does it place too much power in the hands of the judiciary? Can institutions face modern democratic challenges without the flexibility to amend the nation's constitution?
Yes, an unamendable constitution is undemocratic
A constitution is supposed to reflect the values of a society at a given time. An unamendable constitution binds future generations to past values, thereby reducing their democratic influence.
Democracy to necrocracy
Forcing future generations to be governed by the 'dead hand' of their founding fathers drags a democracy into a necrocracy.
The judicial branch becomes a legislative gatekeeper by effectively interpreting a dated constitution and applying that interpretation to modern legislation.
The question has no relevance because states already bound to an unamendable constitution have no alternative at this point.
There is no alternative
For states that already have an unamendable constitution, there is no alternative. Therefore, the question is pointless as it has no practical application.
