Comparative Constitutional Change

This course deals with key constitutional concepts, in particular the historical origins of fundamental law, constituent power, constitutional change, fundamental rights and the rule of law. It also examines their contemporary meaning and application in non-Western contexts.

1. Introduction to Constitution and constitutionalism

Reading:

- Wil Waluchow “Constitutionalism” in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2007) http://

stanford.library.usyd.edu.au/entries/constitutionalism/ [1-8].

- Thomas Christiano “Democracy” in Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (2007) http://

stanford.library.usyd.edu.au/entries/democracy/ [1-10].

- Jon Elster “Ways of Constitution-Making” in Axel Hadenius (ed), Democracy's Victory and Crisis (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997) [123-138].

2. Popular participation in constitution-making and constitutional change

Reading:

Andras Sajó, Chapter 2, “The Taming of Democracy” in Limiting Government: An Introduction to Constitutionalism (Central European University Press, 1999)

3. Human rights in constitutional law

Reading:

Andras Sajó, Chapter 8, “Fundamental rights” in Limiting Government: An Introduction to Constitutionalism (Central European University Press, 1999)

4. Constitutional change and its limit

Reading:

Rosalind Dixon, “Constitutional amendment rules: a comparative perspective” (2011) University of Chicago, Public Law and Legal Theory Working Paper No. 347 [1-21].

Gary Jeffrey Jacobsohn “An Unconstitutional Constitution? A Comparative Perspective” International Journal of Constitutional Law (2006) 4(3) [460-497].

Yaniz Roznai, “Unconstitutional Constitutional Amendments: The Migration and Success of a

Constitutional Idea”, 61American Journal of Comparative Law 65 (2013) [657-720]

5. Constitutional change in Vietnam

Reading:

Bui, Hai Thiem. “Constitutionalizing Single Party Leadership in Vietnam: Dilemmas of Reform.” Asian Journal of Comparative Law (2016), 11 (2): 219-234.

Thiem Hai Bui “Pluralism Unleashed: The Politics of Reforming the Vietnamese Constitution.” Journal of Vietnamese Studies (2014), 9 (4): 1-32.

Thiem Hai Bui “Deconstructing the ‘Socialist’ Rule of Law in Vietnam: The Changing Discourse on Human Rights in Vietnam’s Constitutional Reform Process.” Contemporary Southeast Asia: A Journal of International and Strategic Affairs (2014) 36 (1): 77-100.

6. Seminar: Judicial review and the constitutional role of the courts

Reading:

Alec Stone Sweet “The Politics of Constitutional Review in France and Europe” (2007) 5(1) International Journal of Constitutional Law 69-92.

Andras Sajó, Chapter 7 in Limiting Government: An Introduction to Constitutionalism (Central European University Press, 1999)

7. Seminar: Majority rule and representative government

Reading:

Arend Lijphart “Back to democratic basics: who really practices majority rule?” in in Axel Hadenius (ed), Democracy's Victory and Crisis (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997) [143-162]

Andras Sajó, Chapter 3 in Limiting Government: An Introduction to Constitutionalism (Central European University Press, 1999)

8. Seminar: Parliamentarian and the Legislative Branch

Reading:

Andras Sajó, Chapter 4 in Limiting Government: An Introduction to Constitutionalism (Central European University Press, 1999)

9. Seminar: The Executive Power

Reading:

Andras Sajó, Chapter 5 in Limiting Government: An Introduction to Constitutionalism (Central European University Press, 1999)

10. Seminar: Constitutionalism and enforcement of economic rights

Reading:

Dennis M Davis “Socioeconomic Rights: Do They Deliver the Goods” (2008) 6(3) International Journal of Constitutional Law [687-711].

David Landau, “The Reality of Social Rights Enforcement” (2012) 53(1) Harvard International Law Journal [1-81]

Obligatory reading:

Axel Hadenius (ed), Democracy's Victory and Crisis (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1997)

Andras Sajó, Limiting Government: An Introduction to Constitutionalism (Central European University Press, 1999)

Recommended reading:

Roberto Gargarella “Theories of Democracy, the Judiciary and Social Rights” in Roberto Gargarella et al (eds) Courts and Social Transformation in New Democracies (Ashgate, 2006)

[13-29].

Vinx, Lars, "Carl Schmitt", The Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy (Fall 2019 Edition), Edward N. Zalta (ed.), URL = <https://plato.stanford.edu/archives/fall2019/entries/schmitt/>.

Allan C. Hutchinson “The 'Hard Core' Case Against Judicial Review” (2008) 121 Harv L Rev 57

Mark Tushnet “Some Reflections on Method in Comparative Constitutional Law” in Sujit Choudhry (ed) The Migration of Constitutional Ideas (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press,

2006) 66-83

Andrew Harding, Peter Leyland, and Tania Groppi, “Constitutional Courts: Forms, Functions and Practice in Comparative Perspective” in Constitutional Courts: A Comparative Study (Andrew Harding and Peter Leyland) (Wildy, Simmonds & Hill Publishing, 2009) [3-27].

Albert H. Y. Chen & Andrew Harding (Eds), Constitutional Courts in Asia (Cambridge University Press, 2018)

Supplementary reading:

Ronald Dworkin, Freedom's Law: The Moral Reading of the American Constitution (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 1996) [15-35].

Jeremy Waldron, Law and Disagreement (New York: Oxford University Press, 1999) [282-312].

Martin Loughlin, “Constituent Power Subverted: From English Constitutional Argument to British Constitutional Practice” in Martin Loughlin and Neil Walker, eds, The Paradox of Constitutionalism (Oxford University Press, 2007).