THE DYNAMICS OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY IN INDONESIA : A DESCRIPTIVE REVIEW

Abstract

Indonesia's constitutional democracy has undergone a long and complex journey, particularly since the 1998 reform. This article aims to descriptively analyze the dynamics of Indonesia's constitutional democracy by examining three main pillars: the constitutional system, the implementation of general elections, and the practice of checks and balances. The research method used is normative juridical with a statutory and conceptual approach. The results show that although the 1945 Constitution has been amended to strengthen presidential system and the principle of checks and balances, its implementation still faces serious challenges. Practices of political oligarchy, the dominance of the executive in the legislative process (executive heavy), and the phenomenon of wasted votes in elections are indicators of a democracy that is still "cacat" (flawed). Furthermore, the Constitutional Court plays a crucial role in upholding constitutional justice, yet controversial decisions indicate a tension between normative ideals and political practice. This study concludes that Indonesia has made significant progress institutionally but still struggles with structural and cultural issues to achieve ideal constitutional democracy..