The Penn Program on Democracy, Citizenship and Constitutionalism Presents: Constitution Making
In Philadelphia in 1787, Americans pioneered the creation of written constitutions to empower, guide and limit national governments. Today most modern regimes have such constitutions. But some do not, and many depart sharply from the American model. In 2012-2013, the Penn DCC program will explore how and why constitutions have been and are being made around the world, seeking to illuminate how constitutionalism can be strengthened in the 21st century.
Opening Event: Is the World Rejecting American Constitutionalism?
September 20, 2012
6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
National Constitution Center, 525 Arch Street (reception to follow)
Panelists
Akhil Amar, Sterling Professor of Law and Political Science, Yale University
David Armitage, Blankfein Professor of History, Harvard University
David Law, Professor of Law and Political Science, Washington University in St. Louis
Moderator
Richard R. Beeman, Professor of History, University of Pennsylvania
WORKSHOP SERIES:
4:30 - 6:30 p.m.
Stiteler Hall, Silverstein Forum
208 S. 37th St.
OCTOBER 18:
Do Constitutions Matter?
Thomas Ginsburg, University of Chicago
NOVEMBER 15:
Constitution Making in Africa
Nicholas Haysom, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan
DECEMBER 6:
Condorcet and the French Constitution
Nadia Urbinati, Columbia University, and Steven Lukes, New York University
JANUARY 17:
Transnational Interactions and the Making of Constitutional Rights
Christopher McCrudden, Queen’s University, Belfast
FEBRUARY 21:
The New Hungarian Constitution
Kim Lane Scheppele, Princeton University
MARCH 21:
Is the U.S. Constitution Sufficiently Democratic?
Sanford Levinson, University of Texas
APRIL 18:
Communism, Postcommunism and Ethnofederalism
Valerie Bunce, Cornell University
MAY 3:
International Conference on Constitution Making
Information forthcoming.