This is a comment to an article on the Comparative Constitutions blog.
It is correct that few Americans or other Westerners are skilled at
constitution writing. Indeed, looking at the amendments to the U.S.
Constitution, proposed and adopted, since the first ten, it seems we
have not had anyone competent since James Madison, and with the benefit
of hindsight we can find some flaws in his work as well. We can also
discern that much of the incompetence that got into earlier proposals
was due to political influence.
It is also correct that our
suggestions to drafters in these countries may not receive our
suggestions well, or even understand them. However, since they seem to
take much of what they do from our models, which they often don't
understand (nor do we), it may be of some value to try to explain our
own models, and let them take from that what they will.
However,
Nathan Brown's article seems to suggest that the principles of
constitutional design are more a matter of political culture and taste
than they are. Despite differences in political or legal culture, the
natural restrictions on constitutional designs that can actually work in
the long run are more severe than he seems to think. I find those
principles of design to be dictated not just by human nature, but would
be similarly constrained for any broadly human-like species, anywhere in
the Universe.
Even if they do not listen to our suggestions, it
is worth making them if only to discuss among ourselves, as a way to
learn better how to do this kind of thing. If some of them happen to
listen and and learn something, that is all well and good.
Much
can be learned by examining constitutions for how they have applied
similar design principles, how they have deviated from those principles,
and how that worked out. I find the recent attempt to forge a
"constitution" for the European Union to be particularly instructive for
how not to do it.
There are a few principles I would urge:
1.
Keep out all the aspirational crap. A constitution is a law, not a
political manifesto. It should stick to specifications of structures,
procedures, rights, powers, and duties, and strike the right balance
between specificity and coverage of every contingency that can be
anticipated.
2. The main purpose of a constitution is to protect
rights, and everything needs to lead to that. A well designed
constitution will try to anticipate all the ways rights can be violated
and provide remedies for each of them.
3. A constitution must
never mandate the expenditure of a sufficient amount of any scarce
resource. It must be realizable even when there is nothing to share and
nothing except the efforts of unpaid volunteers to carry out its
provisions.
4. Power needs to be divided in a way that allows for
checks and balances, but which does not prevent action when action is
urgent. That is tough, but it can be done. Generally, those to be
checked should not have a hand in selecting those who must check them.
5.
The key to republican government is not equal representation. There
will never be equal representation. The key is deliberation, with equal
opportunity to have one's concerns deliberated upon. It is, however, a
good idea to create veto blocks against actions that may disadvantage
individuals or minorities. That is one of the functions of courts.
6.
Have as much of government done at the local level as possible without
producing fragmentation. Local juries or shura should be an important
part of any sound design.
2011/11/09
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