»The Use Of Opening Clauses In Criminal Law - A Constitutional Law Analysis«: Opening clauses in criminal law are intended to enable constant adaptation of existing laws to changing circumstances. However, they raise constitutional concerns. This dissertation approaches the question of constitutionality in two ways: First, it examines whether the justificatory approaches to the use of opening clauses are viable. Second, it analyses the concrete compatibility of opening clauses with the constitutional principles of german penal legislation.