ConstitutionNet Updates: December 2016

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You are receiving this email because of your interest in constitutional reform issues and/or membership of International IDEA's constitution building thematic website ConstitutionNet.Org. For regular updates on constitutional reform processes worldwide and to interact with us, visit our website, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook.

This is the last Newsletter of 2016 and contains two analyses and a number of updates on ongoing constitutional reforms worldwide. The Philippines is undergoing constitutional reforms aimed at transforming the country into a full-fledged federal state. While the strong political support could lead to the first round of reforms to the 1987 Constitution, the possible inclusion of opportunistic reforms and fluctuations in political fortune may undermine its success. The end of year editorial looks back at the more than 45 Voices from the Field pieces covering 40 countries published on ConstitutionNet in 2016. While a number of reform processes were either finalized or defeated, many more are still in progress. The updates in this Newsletter covering countries from South Korea to Antigua and Barbuda, Georgia to South Sudan should prepare us for what promises to be another busy year for constitution building.

As 2016 ends, we would like to thank you for your faithful followership. International IDEA and ConstitutionNet will continue the flow of updates and analyses in 2017. Until then, we wish you a wonderful holiday season and a happy New Year.

Note that we still have an open call for papers about Constitutional Responses to the crisis of representation and oligarchic democracy, deadline 4 January 2017. For details see the events section below.

ConstitutionNet Analyses - Voices from the Field
	Constitution Building in 2016: Through the lens of ConstitutionNet’s Voices from the Field Adem K Abebe		Duterte’s Philippines and the push for constitutional shift towards federalism Miriam Coronel Ferrer
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What we are reading this month
	Op-ed: Us Electoral College a medieval relic, only the US still has one	Op-ed: After impeachment of Korean President, constitution reform of presidency takes center stage	Op-ed: Is Colombia’s Santos bypassing constitution in signing new peace deal with FARC?	Op-ed: Lessons for Nepal’s new Constitution from India’s experience in accommodating diversity

Africa	Kenyan court finds cabinet unconstitutional for failure to comply with 2/3 gender rule Zimbabwe may amend constitution on appointment of Chief Justice Sudan’s Higher Coordination Committee approves proposed constitutional amendments giving effect to Dialogue outcomes South Sudan Constitution Reform Committee to begin work under IGAD appointed chair In Nigerian constitutional reform process, immunity of officials no go area Kenyan constitutional amendment bill seeks to place Nairobi under national government Nigerian parliamentary ad hoc committee on constitutional review to hold retreat with stakeholders Malawi opposition party seeks constitutional amendment toward 50+1 system to elect president
Asia and the Pacific	Samoan PM proposes constitution amendment to define nation as a ‘Christian’ state Nepalese opposition demands withdrawal of constitution amendment bill South Korean Parliament to establish special committee for constitutional amendment Kyrgyzstan voters back constitutional referendum empowering prime minister Nepalese Supreme Court orders government to justify constitutional amendment bill Philippines president establishes consultative committee to review constitution
Europe	Poland gets two month extension from EU to reverse changes to Constitutional Court Georgian president, parliament at odds over constitutional commission France’s Valls plans to amend constitution to abolish bypassing of parliament in law making Turkish ruling party submits constitutional amendment bill to parliament Italian voters reject constitutional reforms to Senate, decentralization
North Africa/Middle East	Egyptian parliament may amend constitution to empower military courts to try terrorism cases Egyptian Supreme Constitutional Court partly upholds constitutionality of law restricting protests
Latin America and the Caribbean	Bolivian president to run again, defying outcome of constitutional referendum Brazilian Senate approves constitutional amendment capping spending for 20 years Antigua and Barbuda PM reluctant to hold constitutional referendum on CCJ after Grenada defeat

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ConstitutionNet Updates: December 2016

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