Un-Checked, Un-Balanced: Constitutional & Political Crisis in Ecuador

Constitutions include systems of checks and balances in order to distribute the power between the branches of Government. They also create relief valves in times of political conflict. The Ecuadorian constitution of 2008 includes the classical impeachment process and what has been called morte crusada that allows the president to dissolve the single legislative body and call for new elections. Currently the Ecuadorian Constitution is being used by the politicians to create more conflict

David Cordero-Heredia, J.S.D. ’18 is an Associate Professor of Law, at Universidad Católica del Ecuador currently visiting Cornell University as Visiting Fellow of the Latin American and Caribbean Studies Program. He is a Visiting Professor at the Andean University Simón Bolívar (UASB).