On this day six years ago--February 24, 2017--I came to the campus of the University of Texas at Austin for a day-long interview to join the faculty. The key part of the interview was the presentation I gave. (I remember the title: âAmendment and Revision in the Unmaking of Constitutions.â) After the presentation, I was scheduled to have an office meeting with the Dean, Ward Farnsworth, an outstanding leader and scholar. Knowing that I am a football fan, Dean Farnsworth suggested that we take a walk to Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium, the University's enormous 100,000-seat football venue. Here we are, on that day, standing at mid-field!
There is growing interest in citizens' assemblies as a vehicle for deliberative constitutional change. A recent paper on Citizen Deliberation and Constitutional Change offers an excellent overview of the design, use, and limitations of citizens' assemblies. I recommend the paper, both to understand how citizens' assemblies can be used in tandem with referendums and to explore new possibilities for innovative modes of popular constitutionalism.
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A Conversation on the US Constitution
I have long enjoyed listening to Supreme Myths, a podcast hosted by Eric Segall. That's why I was thrilled to appear on the show this week to discuss how the US Constitution compares to others around the world in relation to constitutional change and to the vast powers of the Supreme Court.
The mission of the International Forum on the Future of Constitutionalism is to marshal knowledge and experience to build a world of opportunity, liberty, and dignity for all.