Comparative Constitutionalism

Catalog description

This course explores constitutionalism: the ideas and patterns of behavior rooted in the idea that governmental power flows from and is limited by fundamental law, often a single written document. This course explores commonalities and differences among constitutions. How do we frame, adopt, and amend them? How do they meet such challenges as executive power, individual rights, and constitutional interpretation? Constitutions covered may include those of the United States, state constitutions from 1776-1780, modern democratic constitutions (France, Germany, Japan); “international” constitutions (UN Charter, European Union); "dictatorial" constitutions (USSR); and "unwritten" constitutions (Israel and the United Kingdom).