Taiwan is in a serious constitutional fight, and the argument is that the cabinet is breaking the rules — bad news for the legislature and for the stability of Taiwan's democracy.

• Eight laws passed by Taiwan's legislature have never taken effect because Premier Cho Jung-tai refuses to countersign them.
• Former premier Jiang Yi-huah calls this unconstitutional and illegal, and the biggest crisis facing Taiwan's system today.
• The constitution says that once the legislature overrides the cabinet's objection, the premier has to accept the result — no exceptions.
• The countersignature power was designed to limit the president, not to let the cabinet block parliament, so using it this way turns it into rule by executive decree.
• A premier who can defy parliament this way could also use the same trick against the president, so future presidents may only appoint people who take orders.

Outlook: Expect the standoff to harden, with Taiwan's courts sidelined because the constitutional court lacks enough justices to rule.