"Rule of Law" and Rechtsstaat - Type and Context of the Government System in the New Century

2003年，我们为这一项目收集了重要资料，并对基本理论问题进行了讨论。我们收集了明治时代的资料和京都大学没有的美国和德国期刊的过刊。我们召开了两次全体成员会议。首先，我们讨论了“法律作用”和“正义”的概念和含义。我们争论的是日本政府的改革，我们也需要实现“法治”。第二，我们今天讨论了美国和德国宪法的变化。在这一年里，我们了解了法律在新世纪政府系统中可能发挥的作用。2004年，我们丰富了材料，在成员中进行了更密切和更频繁的讨论。我们召开了三次全体成员会议，用比较法和法律史的观点加深了理解。我们在共同的项目中确定了每个成员的具体目标。我们对西方国家和日本的“法治”和“正义”概念进行了批判性研究。每个成员都在发表自己的研究成果。

In 2003 we tried to collect important materials for this project and discuss about the basic theoretical problems. We collected materials in the Meiji era and back numbers of American and German journal which Kyoto University had not possessed. We held the meeting of all members twice. At first we discussed about the concept and the meaning of "Role of Law" and "Rechtsstaat". We argued about reforms of the Japanese Government which we need to realize "Rule of Law" too. Second we discussed about changes of the American and German Constitution today. In this year we understood the possible role of law in the government system in this new century.In 2004 we enriched materials and discussed more closely and more often among the members. We held the meeting of all members three times and deepened our understanding with the viewpoints of comparative law and legal history. We decided every member's concrete aim in our common project. We researched critically the concept of "Rule of Law" and "Rechtsstaat" in western countries and Japan. Each member is publishing his research result.