Present at UIN Jakarta Law Fair, Constitutional Law Expert Highlights the Importance of Critical Thinking for Youth in Understanding the Constitution

Harun Nasution Auditorium, UIN News Online - Academician and Constitutional Law Expert, Bivitri Susanti, S.H., LL.M., Ph.D., said the constitution is not just articles and laws. This was conveyed at the Studium Generale UIN Law Fair VII themed “Building Law in Accelerating the Value of the Constitution in the Era of Political Transformation Towards a Golden Indonesia 2045” organized by the Faculty of Sharia and Law of Syarif Hidayatullah State Islamic University (UIN) Jakarta at the Harun Nasution Auditorium on Friday (25/10/2024).

According to Bivitri, if the constitution is only seen as articles and laws, many aspects will be overlooked. More than that, the constitution is about values that balance the relationship between citizens and the state. She emphasized the importance for the younger generation to open their critical minds. “So far, we have often been told that citizens only serve the state. In fact, in a democracy, the state exists because of the citizens, not the government. Citizens are the main element of a state, and the constitution serves to equalize the relationship between the two,” Bivitri explained. “The task of the law is to equalize the unbalanced power relations between citizens and the government,” she added.

Bivitri also invited the audience to understand the law more deeply. She highlighted that our founding fathers built this country not based on power, but based on law. However, we are often complacent with the view that law is only about laws and regulations and law enforcement agencies. “In fact, law is more than that. Law is about justice, not just obeying regulations,” she added.

Furthermore, Bivitri emphasized that students must be independent but not neutral. “We must have partisanship in the constitution, because the relationship is not equal. Those who are considered to be able to provide justice are law enforcers, but the reality is not necessarily,” she said.

Partisanship, according to Bivitri, must be based on action and speech, not the cult of the individual. She also mentioned that in recent years, many things have escaped our attention, especially those that violate constitutional values.

In closing, Bivitri emphasized that critical thinking means not rushing to conclusions, not believing easily, always asking questions, and being skeptical of the information received.

Check out the live streaming recording of the UIN Law Fair Studium Generale activity through the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/live/cmZj0Zv7QVk?si=ojV_UWxTyadYXKR7

(Shely Nurloka/Fauziah M./Dzihan Aufa Kilmi Firdausi/Photo: Adib Taufiqur'Rachman, Hermanudin)