Constitutional Processes and Democratic Commitment

Description

From one of our leading scholars of comparative constitutionalism, advice for everyone involved in the surprisingly common practice of constitution-writing Enhancing prospects for democracy is an important objective in the process of creating a new constitution. Donald L. Horowitz argues that constitutional processes ought to be geared to securing commitment to democracy by those who participate in them. Using evidence from numerous constitutional processes, he makes a strong case for a process intended to increase the likelihood of a democratic outcome. He also assesses tradeoffs among various process attributes and identifies some that might impede democratic outcomes. This book provides a fresh perspective on constitutional processes that will interest students and scholars. It also offers sound advice for everyone involved in the surprisingly common practice of constitution‑writing. Cover Half Title Title Copyright Dedication Contents Preface 1. The Goals of Constitutional Processes 2. Knowledge, History, and Visibility 3. Starting Conditions 4. The Forum and the Method 5. Inclusion and Consensus 6. Consensus, Compromise, Clarity, and Coherence 7. External Advice and the Participation Imperative 8. Consensus and Defection: The Case of Sri Lanka 9. Shaping a Process 10. Processes, Good and Not So Good Index A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W Y Z