When I enlisted in the Canadian Army after law school, I was required to swear this oath of allegiance to the Queen, Canada's Head of State and our Commander-in-Chief:
“I, Richard Albert, do swear that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Second, Queen of Canada, Her heirs and successors according to law. So help me God.”
Today, I would be uncomfortable swearing the same oath to the Canadian monarch because I now understand more clearly the devastation the monarchy has brought to the world. I am a proud Canadian and always will be. But I stand in awe and admiration of our Commonwealth cousins who have had the political will to do the right thing: to disassociate from a foreign institution rooted historically in colonialism, elitism, and racism.
Richard Albert
Best Universities for Constitutional Studies?
If I were a student applying today to English-language doctoral programs in constitutional studies, this would be my preliminary Top 10.
A Retirement BBQ
Last week, I hosted my faculty colleague Gary Jacobsohn for a retirement lunch at Black's, his favorite BBQ joint. We were joined by Sandy Levinson.
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Gary is an infinitely important scholar of comparative constitutionalism. He was recruited in 2004 to enhance the study of constitutions here on campus. Two decades later: mission accomplished. His scholarship, teaching, and mentorship have helped catapult the University of Texas at Austin into a leading site for constitutional studies. Congratulations, Gary. And thank you.
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If you have not yet read Gary's book on Constitutional Identity (Harvard University Press), I urge you to put it on your reading list.
Constitutional designers rarely consider how the constitution will be “edited” when it is amended. They should, because it matters a lot.
1. Should we append amendments sequentially to the end of the document and leave untouched all existing text, as in the US?
2. Should we embed amendments directly into the existing text, with notations about what has been modified and how, as in India?
3. Or should we instead insert amendments into the text without indicating at all that any alteration has occurred, as in Ireland?
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This book shows why the placement of constitutional amendments goes beyond mere aesthetics. The manner in which a constitution is edited influences how and whether a people remembers its past, how the constitutional text will be interpreted, and whether the constitution will be easily accessible.
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Discount available!
Use this discount code to pre-order here at 20% off:
For years now, I have been a Visiting Professor of Law at Externado University in Colombia. This year, I taught a course on “The Theory of Constitutional Reform.” Here we are right after our final class, standing on the University terrace overlooking Bogotá.
Happy Mother's Day
When I woke up on Mother's Day, a happy memory came to mind. I remembered traveling with my mom a few years ago to her native Haiti to help rebuild a school that had been destroyed by an earthquake in the mountainous region of Maro Verger. After a two-hour trek up those steep hills, my mom and I took a break to enjoy a refreshing coconut. I was tired from the hike, but my mom was ready to keep going. I could barely keep up with her!
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Happy Mother's Day to all mothers and mother figures!
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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.
