Abstract
The transition to democracy in Indonesia was completed in 2004, following four revisions of the 1945 Constitution during the years 1999–2002, and the first-ever direct presidential election was held in 2004. In the course of institutional reforms, the political system was completely revised and, in particular, a balance of power among the executive, legislative and judicial branches was carefully designed and implemented so as to prevent the re-establishment of an authoritarian regime. This chapter analyses the newly reformed presidential system in Indonesia. Is the Indonesian political system executive-heavy or legislative-heavy? Is the Indonesian president strong or weak? Simple though they may seem, these questions cannot be answered easily. Some scholars argue that the Indonesian political system is legislative-heavy since the president is often frustrated in policy-making by an assertive parliament, which has gained power under the democratic reforms. Others argue that the power of the president as head of state is such that the system may still be described as ‘executive-heavy’. However, these arguments lack an empirical base. Research that clearly defines what constitutes the strength (or the weakness) of the Indonesian president has been seldom attempted. By following an empirical approach, this study will attempt to make good this deficiency.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Altman, D. (2000) ‘The Politics of Coalition Formation and Survival in Multiparty Presidential Democracies: The Case of Uruguay, 1989–1999’, Party Politics, vol. 6, no. 3, pp. 259–283.
Argama, R. (2009) Realisasi Prolegnas [The Realization of Prolegnas], at: www.parlemen.net (accessed 26 June 2009).
Asshiddiqie, J. (2004) Format kelembagaan negara dan pergeseran kekuasaan dalam UUD 1945 [The format of the state institutions and the transformation of powers in the 1945 Constitution] (Yogyakarta: TH UII Press).
Asshiddiqie, J. (2007) Pokok-pokok hukum tata negara Indonesia: pasca reformasi [Basics of the Indonesian state law: post-reformation] (Jakarta: Bhuana Ilmu Populer).
Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (2000) Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia dalam proses demokratisasi: laporan pelaksanaan fungsi, tugas dan wewenang DPR RI pada sidang tahunan MPR RI tahun pertama 1999–2000 [The House of People’s Representatives, Republic of Indonesia, in the process of democratization: report of implementation of function, task, and authority of DPR RI in the annual session of MPR RI, the first year 1999–2000] (Jakarta: Sekretariat Jenderal, Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia).
Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (2001) Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia dalam proses demokratisasi: laporan pelaksanaan fungsi, tugas dan wewenang DPR RI pada sidang tahunan MPR RI tahun kedua 2000–2001 [The House of People’s Representatives, Republic of Indonesia, in the process of democratization: report of implementation of function, task, and authority of DPR RI in the annual session of MPR RI, the second year 2000–2001] (Jakarta: Sekretariat Jenderal, Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia).
Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (2002) Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia dalam proses demokratisasi: laporan pelaksanaan fungsi, tugas dan wewenang DPR RI pada sidang tahunan MPR RI tahun ketiga 2001–2002 [The House of People’s Representatives, Republic of Indonesia, in the process of democratization: report of implementation of function, task, and authority of DPR RI in the annual session of MPR RI, the third year 2001–2002] (Jakarta: Sekretariat Jenderal, Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia).
Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (2003) Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia dalam proses demokratisasi: laporan pelaksanaan fungsi, tugas dan wewenang DPR RI pada sidang tahunan MPR RI tahun keempat 2002–2003 [The House of People’s Representatives, Republic of Indonesia, in the process of democratization: report of implementation of function, task, and authority of DPR RI in the annual session of MPR RI, the fourth year 2002–2003] (Jakarta: Sekretariat Jenderal, Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia).
Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (2004a) Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia dalam proses demokratisasi: laporan pelaksanaan fungsi, tugas dan wewenang DPR RI pada sidang tahunan MPR RI tahun kelima 2003–2004 [The House of People’s Representatives, Republic of Indonesia, in the process of democratization: report of implementation of function, task, and authority of DPR RI in the annual session of MPR RI, the fifth year 2003–2004] (Jakarta: Sekretariat Jenderal, Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia).
Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (2004b) Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia periode 1999–2004 [The House of People’s Representatives, Republic of Indonesia, period 1999–2004] (Jakarta: Sekretariat Jenderal, Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia).
Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (2005) Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia periode 2004–2009: tahun pertama [The House of People’s Representatives, Republic of Indonesia, period 2004–2009: the first year] (Jakarta: Sekretariat Jenderal, Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia).
Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (2006) Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia periode 2004–2009: tahun kedua [The House of People’s Representatives, Republic of Indonesia, period 2004–2009: the second year] (Jakarta: Sekretariat Jenderal, Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia).
Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (2007) Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia periode 2004–2009: tahun ketiga [The House of People’s Representatives, Republic of Indonesia, period 2004–2009: the third year] (Jakarta: Sekretariat Jenderal, Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia).
Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (2008) Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia periode 2004–2009: tahun keempat [The House of People’s Representatives, Republic of Indonesia, period 2004–2009: the fourth year] (Jakarta: Sekretariat Jenderal, Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia).
Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat (2009) Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia periode 2004–2009: tahun kelima [The House of People’s Representatives, Republic of Indonesia, period 2004–2009: the fifth year] (Jakarta: Sekretariat Jenderal, Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia).
Himpunan peraturan perundang-undangan Republik Indonesia [Collections of laws of Republic of Indonesia] each year (Jakarta: CV. Eko Jaya).
Katharina, R. (2005) Pemetaan masalah parlemen — ditinjau dari peraturan tata tertib DPR: rekomendasi perbaikan kinerja DPR melalui revisi tata tertib [Mapping of parliamentary problems — observed from the order of DPR: recommendation for improvement of work of DPR through the revision of the order of DPR] (Jakarta: Friedrich Naumann Stifutung).
Mainwaring, S. (1993) ‘Presidentialism, Multipartism, and Democracy: The Difficult Combination’, Comparative Political Studies, vol. 26, no. 2, pp. 198–228.
Sekretariat DPR & UNDP (2009) Laporan lima tahun DPR RI 2004–2009: mengemban amanat dan aspirasi rakyat [Five year report of DPR RI 2004–2009: realization of people’s mandate and aspiration] (Jakarta: Sekretariat Jenderal, Dewan Perwakilan Rakyat Republik Indonesia).
Sherlock, S. (2007) The Indonesian Parliament after Two Elections: What Has Really Changed?, CDI policy papers on political governance 2007/1 (Canberra: Centre for Democratic Institutions).
Stepan, A. and C. Skach (1993) ‘Constitutional Frameworks and Democratic Consolidation: Parliamentarism versus Presidentialism’, World Politics, vol. 46, no. 1, pp. 1–22.
Susanti, B. (2007) ‘Problem kelembagaan dalam proses legislasi’ [Institutional problems in legislation process], paper presented to the seminar memperbaiki kualitas pembuatan undang-undang di Indonesia, The Habibie Centre, Jakarta, 8 March.
Tim Redaksi Tatanusa (2003) Anotasi peraturan perundang-undangan Republik Indonesia tahun 1945–2002 jilid I: status undang-undang, undang-undang darurat dan peraturan pemerintah pengganti undang-undang dalam pelaksanaan [Annotation of laws of Republic of Indonesia year 1945–2002 volume I: status of law, emergency law, and government regulation in lieu of law under implementation] (Jakarta: Tatanusa).
Ziegenhain, P. (2008) The Indonesian Parliament and Democratization (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies).
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 2013 Koichi Kawamura
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Kawamura, K. (2013). President Restrained: Effects of Parliamentary Rule and Coalition Government on Indonesia’s Presidentialism. In: Kasuya, Y. (eds) Presidents, Assemblies and Policy-making in Asia. Palgrave Macmillan, London. https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137315083_8
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1057/9781137315083_8
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, London
Print ISBN: 978-1-349-44704-6
Online ISBN: 978-1-137-31508-3
eBook Packages: Palgrave Political & Intern. Studies CollectionPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)