How are Constitutions Made?
Also in this video series:
Constitutions often claim to be made by “we the people” but what does that mean? This video is a simple introduction to how democratic constitutions are made. Emphasizing that broad agreement and public support are key to success, it discusses ways in which the people (all the people, including minorities and marginalized groups) can have an active voice in the constitution-building process. This may take place through inclusive membership of a representative constitution-making body as well as through systematic public engagement and dialogue amongst the wider society. Because building broad agreement on the constitution will involve much discussion and negotiation, and many compromises, the process of constitution-building can take several years. It may start with preliminary discussions long before the text of a constitution can be drafted and will continues, through the implementation phase, long after the constitution has been approved. As such, it is important to carefully plan the various stages of the process, and to reach an inclusive agreement about the process itself if it is to have a good chance of coming to a successful conclusion.