Basis for the International Constitution Center

Global Background and Basis

The world is going the way of democracy and constitutional liberty and the challenge to the International Constitution Center in the decades ahead is to draw in the leaders and constitutional scholars from the world's new rising powers and help them to be stakeholders in the global expansion in the expertise of constitutionalism.

The ICC will help foster this evolutionary process of democratic and constitutional government by providing greater openness, transparency and knowledge of its multifaceted dimensions. The goal of the International Constitution Center is to assist in pushing these progressive forces forward using education and good scholarship. There has been a dazzling pageant of progress since the end of the Cold War, and we aim to accelerate the achievement of knowledge, democracy and constitutional liberty worldwide.

The Global Spread of Democracy

The global spread of democracy since the 1970s, especially after the collapse of communism, has been impressive. From 10 constitutional democracies in 1900 to 40 in 1960 the trend moves up rapidly. According to Freedom House, an American organization that tracks global trends in political freedom, at the end of 2005 there were 122 electoral democracies (64% of the world’s states, compared with 40% in the mid-1980s). Notable was that freedom and constitutional liberty finally has made inroads in the Middle East and Africa. Each of these countries seeks guidance and collegial relations with others in similar situations as they frame out their constitutions and their documentation of civil rights.

From Idea to Reality

Our History

The International Constitution Center is a long-term, work-in-progress with milestones to be met as resources materialize and executive and staff leadership gather.

1) Clarification of Mission

2) Identification of Those Who Can Assist on the Advisory Board

3) Identification of Those Who Provide Financial Support

4) Evolution of Curriculum

5) Focus on Land and Physical Resources

6) Solicit International Participation

7) Initial Symposia and Classes

8) Evolution of Best Practices and Growth

Perspective

A constitution is a system for government, often codified as a written document that establishes the rules and principles of an autonomous political entity. In the case of countries, the term refers specifically to a national constitution defining the fundamental political principles, and establishing the structure, procedures, powers and duties of a government. Most national constitutions also guarantee certain rights to the people. Historically, before the evolution of modern-style codified national constitutions, the term constitution could be applied to any important law that governed the functioning of a government.

From the first known Sumerian code of justice in 2300BC (Iraq) through a march of evolutionary constitutional structures including the code of Lipit-Ishtar, Hammurabi, Hittite, Assyrian, Mosaic Code, Cyrus cylinder, the Greek and Roman structures and on to Japan, the Iroquois, English charters, US constitutions and contemporary “fresh and new” structures, the International Constitution Center seeks to immerse itself in the march of legal progress.

The International Constitution Center seeks to explore and reveal to its members and their participating scholars the evolution of constitutions and assist in writing new constitution and amending those currently in existence.

Research Topics

A broad range of topics will be researched and elucidated:

Terminology and Etymology of Constitutions
General Features of Constitutions
History and Development of Constitutions
Principles of Constitutional Design
Governmental Constitutions
Features, Codification and Entrenchment
Separation of Powers and Accountability
Façade Constitutions
Constitutional Courts
Encyclopedia of Constitutions
Judicial Activism/Restraint Regarding Constitutions
Originalism and Constructionism of Constitutional Content

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