The Constitutional Position of the President and Vice Pres-ident in Indonesia
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.62951/ijss.v2i2.398Keywords:
Checks and balances, Constitutional reform, President, Separation of powers, Vice PresidentAbstract
This study examines the constitutional position of the President and Vice President in Indonesia following the four amendments to the 1945 Constitution between 1999 and 2002, focusing on how these reforms reshaped executive authority and accountability. It addresses the problem of excessive presidential dominance and unclear vice-presidential functions under the New Order regime, with research objectives to analyze the institutional, authority, accountability, and relational dimensions of the amended constitutional framework. Employing a normative doctrinal method through statute and conceptual approaches, the study analyzes primary legal texts, scholarly articles, and tertiary materials using descriptive-analytical techniques. The main findings reveal that the introduction of direct joint elections, strict two-term limits, impeachment mechanisms, and the establishment of the Constitutional Court significantly strengthened checks and balances, clarified the Vice President’s supportive and succession roles, and redistributed legislative powers to the DPR. These reforms created a more balanced separation of powers and enhanced democratic legitimacy while also highlighting emerging challenges in institutional capture and democratic backsliding. In conclusion, Indonesia’s gradualist constitutional reform successfully transformed an authoritarian executive into a more accountable presidential system, though ongoing vigilance and potential further amendments are necessary to consolidate democratic gains.
Downloads
References
Abdullah, A. (2023). Declassifying Theory of Separation of Powers and its Inherent System of Checks and Balances: A Comparative Study. Zakariya Journal of Social Sciences, 2(1), 31–41. https://doi.org/10.59075/zjss.v2i1.231
Akhtar, Z. (2023). Montesquieu’s Theory of the Separation of Powers, Legislative Flexibility and Judicial Restraint in an Unwritten Constitution. Amicus Curiae, 4(3), 552–577. https://doi.org/10.14296/ac.v4i3.5616
Arifudin, A., & Rahayu, S. (2022). Urgency of Amendment The 1945 Constitution in Realizing Consolidation of Democracy in Indonesia. In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Law, Social Science, Economics, and Education, MALAPY 2022, 28 May 2022, Tegal, Indonesia. EAI. https://doi.org/10.4108/eai.28-5-2022.2320347
Baidhowa, A. R. (2021). Defender of Democracy: The Role of Indonesian Constitutional Court in Preventing Rapid Democratic Backsliding. Constitutional Review, 7(1), 124. https://doi.org/10.31078/consrev715
Dramanda, W., Kabir, S. F., & Zakiran, A. H. (2024). Presidential System and the Rise of Neo-Authoritarianism: The Failure of Constitutional Reform in Indonesia? Jurnal Konstitusi, 21(3), 345–365. https://doi.org/10.31078/jk2131
Eddyono, L. W. (2017). The Unamendable Articles of the 1945 Constitution. Constitutional Review, 2(2), 252. https://doi.org/10.31078/consrev225
Esfandiari, F., Fadli, M., & Tegnan, H. (2025). The Principle of Prudence and Scope Limitation in the Discussion of the Indonesian Constitutional Court: Implications for Legal Reform and Judicial Decision Making. Journal of Law and Legal Reform, 6(1), 449–480. https://doi.org/10.15294/jllr.v6i1.8071
Faiz, P. M. (2011). The Democratic Constitutional State of Indonesia. Indonesian Law Review, 1(1). https://doi.org/10.15742/ilrev.v1n1.62
Fatlolon, C. (2022). Evaluasi Proses Amendemen Undang-Undang Dasar Tahun 1945: Perspektif Habermasian. Jurnal Konstitusi, 19(4), 819–842. https://doi.org/10.31078/jk1944
Fikriya, M., Sulastri, D., Kania, D., & Rizqia, R. N. (2024). Examining the Role of Indonesia’s Constitutional Court as a Positive Legislator. Rechtsidee, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.21070/jihr.v12i1.1022
Horowitz, D. L. (2013). Constitutional Change and Democracy in Indonesia. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139225724
Hosen, N. (2007). CAN THE MUSLIM WORLD BORROW FROM INDONESIAN CONSTITUTIONAL REFORM? A Comparative Constitutional Approach. Jurnal Indonesian Islam, 1(1), 75. https://doi.org/10.15642/JIIS.2007.1.1.75-99
Indrayana, D. (2015). In Search for a Democratic Constitution: Indonesian Constitutional Reform 1999 - 2002. Jurnal Media Hukum, 17(1), 115–131. https://doi.org/10.18196/jmh.v17i1.372
Isra, S., & Faiz, P. M. (2024). The Indonesian Constitutional Court: An Overview. In Courts and Diversity (pp. 55–94). Brill | Nijhoff. https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004691698_004
Isra, S., Idris, F., & Tegnan, H. (2020). Designing a Constitutional Presidential Democracy in Indonesia. Journal of Politics and Law, 13(2), 22. https://doi.org/10.5539/jpl.v13n2p22
Krouse, R. W. (1982). Polyarchy & Participation: The Changing Democratic Theory of Robert Dahl. Polity, 14(3), 441–463. https://doi.org/10.2307/3234535
Kuswanto, K. (2018). Consistency of the Presidential System in Indonesia. Sriwijaya Law Review, 2(2), 170–182. https://doi.org/10.28946/slrev.Vol2.Iss2.67.pp170-182
Lindsey, T. (2017). Indonesian Constitutional Reform: Muddling Towards Democracy. In Public Law in East Asia (pp. 337–363). Routledge. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315089263-12
Mahardika, A. G. (2023). Potential Irregularities in Arrangements of Amendment Regarding the Term of Office of Village Heads in the Indonesian Constitutional Law System. NEGREI Academic Journal of Law and Governance, 3(1), 1–22. https://doi.org/10.29240/negrei.v3i1.8024
Mahfud, M. (2010). Separation of powers and independence of the Constitutional Court in Indonesia. Observatório Da Jurisdição Constitucional, 1(1). https://www.portaldeperiodicos.idp.edu.br/observat
Mainwaring, S., & Shugart, M. S. (1997). Juan Linz, Presidentialism, and Democracy: A Critical Appraisal. Comparative Politics, 29(4), 449. https://doi.org/10.2307/422014
Manullang, E., Sinaga, B. N. P., & Siburian, K. (2025). Protection Of Human Rights In The Context Of Indonesian Constitutional Law Against The Functions Of State Institutions. Indonesian Journal of Law and Justice, 2(3). https://doi.org/10.47134/ijlj.v2i3.3652
Mattos, K. D. G. (2017). Constitutional Courts as Mediators: Armed Conflict, Civil-Military Relations, and the Rule of Law in Latin America. By Julio Ríos-Figueroa. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2016. Law & Society Review, 51(4), 1006–1008. https://doi.org/10.1111/lasr.12302
Mukhlis, M. M., Imširović, M., Balebo, P. M., & Lohalo, G. O. (2025). Strengthening Presidential Institutions in Indonesia: A Policy Analysis for Governance Reform. Al-Adalah Jurnal Hukum dan Politik Islam, 10(1), 24–43. https://doi.org/10.30863/ajmpi.v10i1.7571
Mukhlis, M. M., Wahab, H. A., Paidi, Z., Sastrawaty, N., & Hasan, H. (2024). Heavy Parliamentary v. Heavy Executive: Ambiguity of Power in Indonesian Constitutional Practices. Jurnal Media Hukum, 31(2), 186–205. https://doi.org/10.18196/jmh.v31i2.21703
Noak, P. A. (2024). Analysis Of the Existence of Political Dynasties in Village Head Elections in Indonesia. International Journal of Religion, 5(10), 1135–1145. https://doi.org/10.61707/4bnbga38
Oktapani, S., Suhartono, S., Hufron, H., & Mangesti, Y. A. (2023). The obligation of Constitutional Court to give a decision on opinion of Council Representatives in process of termination Indonesian President. Technology and Social Science Journal, 45, 163–167. https://doi.org/10.47577/tssj.v45i1.9196
Palguna, I. D. G., & Wardana, A. (2024). Pragmatic Monism: The Practice of the Indonesian Constitutional Court in Engaging with International Law. Asian Journal of International Law, 14(2), 404–424. https://doi.org/10.1017/S2044251323000723
Perdana, M. A., Al Faruq, M. H., & Ruhpinesthi, G. E. (2024). A Prophetic Law Perspective on Judicial Independence of the Indonesian Constitutional Court: Looking Back on 20 Years. Prophetic Law Review, 6(1), 71–97. https://doi.org/10.20885/PLR.vol6.iss1.art4
Repansah, M. (2025). Penerapan Sistem Demokrasi Konstitusional: Indikator dan Hambatan dalam Ketatanegaraan Indonesia. Staatsrecht Jurnal Hukum Kenegaraan dan Politik Islam, 4(2), 329–351. https://doi.org/10.14421/ppky3465
Saputra, M. R., & Setiadi, W. (2024). Implementation Of General Principles Of Good Government In The Organization Of The 2024 Elections. International Journal of Law and Society, 1(3), 94–112. https://doi.org/10.62951/ijls.v1i3.65
Saputra, M. R., Setiadi, W., & Thohari, A. A. (2024). Analisis Potensi Implementasi Sistem Politik Tanpa Partai di Indonesia dan Dampaknya terhadap Demokrasi dan Tata Kelola Pemerintahan. Eksekusi Jurnal Ilmu Hukum dan Administrasi Negara, 2(4), 204–222. https://doi.org/10.55606/eksekusi.v2i4.1531
Thohir, M., & Sukriono, D. (2024). Implementation Authority of the Constitutional Court in the Indonesian Constitutional Law System. Awang Long Law Review, 6(2). https://doi.org/10.56301/awl.v6i2.1112
Widayati, W., Kusriyah, S., & Winanto, W. (2022). The Construction of the Vice President’s Authority in Indonesia’s Statement System. Jurnal Pembaharuan Hukum, 9(2), 274. https://doi.org/10.26532/jph.v9i2.23920
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 International Journal of Social Science and Humanity
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
