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.

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