Restoring the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR-RI) as the Highest State Institution in the Republic of Indonesia: Re-examining its Relevance in Indonesia’s Contemporary Constitutional System

Padre Jovianthony Kusumadi, Andy Omara, S.H., MPub&IntLaw., Ph.D.

2024 | Skripsi | ILMU HUKUM

Majelis Permusyawaratan Rakyat Republik Indonesia (MPR-RI) telah melakukan revolusi dalam berbagai tahap sejak lembaga tersebut didirikan serta telah menghadapi berbagai masalah. Dalam isu pengembaliannya sebagai lembaga tertinggi negara di Republik Indonesia saat ini, sebuah pertanyaan penting muncul kembali di tengah-tengah evolusi ketatanegaraan yang sedang berlangsung, yaitu relevansi MPR-RI. Pertanyaan penting tersebut adalah bagaimana relevansi MPR-RI di tengah masyarakat kontemporer Republik Indonesia dan relevansinya dalam sistem ketatanegaraan Indonesia saat ini.

Penelitian ini menggunakan pendekatan hukum historis untuk memahami pembentukan MPR-RI serta membantu menjawab pertanyaan-pertanyaan hukum mengenai signifikansi MPR-RI dalam generasi yang telah berkembang di Indonesia. Untuk itu, pendekatan normatif, dan perspektif komparatif akan digunakan untuk menjawab pertanyaan-pertanyaan tersebut.

Dari penelitian hukum ini, ada tiga kesimpulan yang dapat ditarik. Pertama, pengembalian MPR sebagai lembaga tertinggi negara didorong oleh angin politik. Kedua, kedudukan MPR sebagai lembaga tertinggi negara sudah tidak relevan lagi dalam kerangka ketatanegaraan Indonesia. Ketiga, Indonesia harus mengikuti jejak langkah negara lain seperti, Republik Tiongkok (Taiwan) dengan Majelis Nasionalnya dalam hal fungsi dan prinsip-prinsip lembaga.

The People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR-RI) which has evolved in many stages throughout its existence has faced a many of problems. In its current issue of being restored as the highest state institution in the Republic of Indonesia, a pivotal question resurfaces in the midst of an ongoing constitutional evolution that will shape the relevance of the MPR-RI. Such momentous question calls for the MPR-RI, what is the relevance is the MPR-RI now in a contemporary society in the Republic of Indonesia and its relevance in its present constitutional system.

This research involves a historical legal approach in order to understand the formation of the MPR-RI as well as assist in answering core legal questions regarding the significance of the MPR-RI in an evolved generation in Indonesia. To this extent, a normative approach, and a comparative perspective will be used in order to facilitate this legal research.

From this legal research, three conclusions can be drawn. First the restoration of the MPR as the highest state institution is driven by political winds. Second, the extent of the MPR as the highest state institution is no longer relevant in Indonesia’s constitutional framework. Third, Indonesia shall learn from the footsteps from its inspirators, the Republic of China (Taiwan) and its National Assembly, in their function and principle of the institution.

Kata Kunci : MPR-RI, The People’s Consultative Assembly, Constitution, Constitutional reform, 1945 Constitution, New Order Era, Old Order Era