Publication Ethics

The Journal of Constitutional Law Society (JCLS) is a peer-reviewed scholarly journal published by Constitutional Law Society. The journal is committed to maintaining the highest standards of publication ethics and takes all possible measures against publication malpractice. This statement is based on the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), best practices in scholarly publishing, and international standards of ethical academic publication. The publication of an article in JCLS is an essential contribution to the development of constitutional law scholarship and legal research. All parties involved in the publication process, including authors, editors, reviewers, and publishers, are expected to uphold ethical standards at every stage of publication. Articles that do not comply with ethical standards may be rejected, corrected, retracted, or removed at any stage of the publication process.

Ethical Guidelines for Journal Publication

1. Publication Decisions

The Editor-in-Chief and Editorial Board of JCLS are responsible for determining which submitted manuscripts should be published. Editorial decisions shall be based on:

originality,
academic contribution,
relevance to the journal scope,
methodological validity,
clarity of presentation,
and legal/scientific significance.

Editors may consult reviewers and members of the Editorial Board in making publication decisions.

The editors shall also comply with applicable legal requirements regarding:

copyright infringement,
plagiarism,
defamation,
and publication ethics.

Editors shall evaluate manuscripts solely based on their intellectual merit without discrimination regarding:

race,
gender,
religion,
nationality,
political philosophy,
institutional affiliation,
or personal background of the authors.

3. Confidentiality

Editors and editorial staff must maintain the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts.

Information regarding manuscripts shall not be disclosed to anyone except:

corresponding authors,
reviewers,
editorial advisers,
and the publisher when appropriate.

Unpublished materials disclosed in a submitted manuscript must not be used for personal research or editorial advantage without written consent from the author.

4. Conflict of Interest

Editors, reviewers, and authors must disclose any potential conflict of interest that could influence the publication process. Conflicts of interest may include:

institutional relationships,
research collaborations,
financial support,
personal relationships,
or political interests.

Editors and reviewers shall recuse themselves from handling manuscripts in which conflicts of interest exist.

Duties of Authors

1. Reporting Standards

Authors must present accurate, original, and objective research. Fraudulent statements, fabricated data, falsification, or misleading information constitute unethical behavior and are unacceptable. Research articles should contain sufficient detail and references to permit replication and verification.

2. Originality and Plagiarism

Authors must ensure that submitted manuscripts are original works. Any use of others’ works, ideas, data, or words must be properly cited. Plagiarism in all forms, including:

direct plagiarism,
self-plagiarism,
paraphrasing plagiarism,
and data plagiarism,

constitutes unethical publishing behavior.

All manuscripts submitted to JCLS will undergo plagiarism screening using similarity detection software. Manuscripts with a similarity index exceeding the journal threshold may be rejected before peer review.

3. Multiple, Redundant, or Concurrent Publication

Authors should not submit the same manuscript simultaneously to more than one journal. Submitting identical or substantially similar manuscripts to multiple publications constitutes unethical conduct. Previously published works shall not be submitted unless substantial revisions or academic justifications are clearly disclosed.

4. Authorship of the Manuscript

Authorship should be limited to individuals who have made significant contributions to:

research conception,
design,
analysis,
interpretation,
drafting,
or revising the manuscript.

All co-authors must approve the final manuscript before submission.

Individuals who contributed to the research but do not meet authorship criteria should be acknowledged appropriately. Ghost authorship, honorary authorship, or gift authorship are unethical practices and are prohibited.

5. Data Access and Retention

Authors may be requested to provide raw data related to the manuscript for editorial review. Authors should retain research data for a reasonable period after publication.

6. Disclosure and Funding Sources

Authors must disclose:

financial support,
sponsorship,
grants,
or other funding sources related to the research.

Any potential conflicts of interest must also be disclosed clearly in the manuscript.

7. Fundamental Errors in Published Works

If authors discover significant errors or inaccuracies in their published work, they must promptly notify the editor. Authors are obligated to cooperate in correcting or retracting the article when necessary.

Duties of Reviewers

1. Contribution to Editorial Decisions

Peer reviewers assist editors in making editorial decisions and improving manuscript quality. The review process in JCLS applies a double-blind peer review system.

2. Promptness

Reviewers who feel unqualified or unable to review manuscripts within the specified time should notify the editor immediately.

3. Confidentiality

Manuscripts received for review must be treated as confidential documents. They must not be shared or discussed with others without editorial authorization.

4. Objectivity

Reviews should be conducted objectively, professionally, and constructively. Personal criticism toward authors is inappropriate. Reviewers should express opinions clearly and support them with academic arguments.

5. Acknowledgement of Sources

Reviewers should identify relevant published works not cited by the authors. Reviewers should also inform editors of any substantial similarity between the reviewed manuscript and other published works.

6. Conflict of Interest

Reviewers must decline manuscript evaluation if conflicts of interest exist due to: