7th Tang Prize for Rule of Law Awarded to US Legal Scholar Professor Bruce Ackerman

(Central News Agency, Taipei, June 18) The 2026 7th Tang Prize for Rule of Law was announced today, with U.S. law professor Bruce Ackerman selected as the laureate. Ackerman's contribution to the rule of law is embodied in his pioneering 'dualist democracy' theory, which distinguishes between 'normal politics' and 'higher lawmaking.'

The Tang Prize Rule of Law Selection Committee specifically noted in its award statement that Professor Ackerman's cross-border constitutional exploration in seeking constitutional legitimacy and popular sovereignty, along with his passion and dedication across generations, has deeply inspired all constitutional practitioners around the world pursuing social justice and the rule of law.

Born in 1943, Ackerman is currently the Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science at Yale University. He grew up in the Bronx, New York, and after graduating from Yale Law School, served as a clerk for Judge Henry J. Friendly of the U.S. Court of Appeals and Justice John Marshall Harlan of the U.S. Supreme Court, marking the beginning of his legal career.