Constitutions across the globe embody the intersection of civil aspirations and governmental practicality. Around 300 academics, legal professionals, and jurists from 64 nations convened in Austin, Texas, earlier this month to exchange insights at their third gathering. Global Summit on Constitutionalism . However, a high school student, an uncommon yet appreciated participant, most effectively conveyed the essence of the event’s objective.
I went to the Summit to present for 12 minutes on topics related to the U.S. amendment cycles During a concurrent session, I learned far more than expected as a participant across all three days of the event. Here are some standout moments:
In essence, we share more common ground than we think: Despite the formal cross-border comparisons during the conference, attendees highlighted significant parallels in striving for their ambitions while steering real-world politics. Amidst the struggle against democratic erosion in constitutional democracies, the insights from individuals well-versed in the vernacular of democracy provided numerous reminders of our collective purpose.
Constitutions are actual terms used in reality; judges have highlighted some of life’s toughest truths. Consider instances where they listened to people whose cases prevented Jair Bolsonaro from appearing on ballots once more in Brazil or invalidated Calin Georgescu's majority win in Romania’s presidential race because of voting rule breaches—a stark reminder indeed. These situations underscored how vital constitutional wording can be for everyday existence with great courage.
Ambitions Count Too: As anticipated, discussions centered largely around rights. However, the subjects covered were wide-ranging: the right to respect, the entitlement to honesty, the freedom from being ruled by machines, and even the privilege of maintaining hope. While these rights might not be enshrined in the U.S. Constitution, it’s important to remember that it has taken over three lifetimes of persistent effort just for women to secure their voting rights in this nation.
A different angle on rights: The U.S. Constitution outlines democracy as governance by the majority with safeguards for the minority’s rights. Pondering a minor adjustment—majority rule limited by human rights—was intriguing. Might this perspective influence American thoughts on crafting governmental policies and frameworks decades from now?
My initial discomfort with my limited knowledge of the program’s language soon transformed into appreciation for the varying stress patterns used by speakers. It was notable, though perhaps not unexpected, when a Brazilian professor remarked post-dinner that one key suggestion he had for students aiming to study comparative law was to master English.
Politics play a crucial role: Mark Graber, from the University of Maryland School of Law in Baltimore, gently reminded his listeners of something they might find unsettling—the fact that constitutions and laws cannot be divorced from politics. In truth, politics revolves around shaping various visions for society within the public sphere, with constitutions setting out these ultimate aims and objectives. This shared purpose binds us together as members of this community.
On the final day, the conference host and organizer Richard Albert It occurred near my lunch table where someone was amazed by what they observed: a lecturer from Ghana, an Iraqi researcher, a judicial magistrate from Bangladesh, and an American author—all united by a single shared passion: constitutions worthy of adherence, protection, and reform. Albert instructs at the University of Texas School of Law in Austin and specializes in constitutional architecture and cross-disciplinary studies; this scene likely wasn’t out of the ordinary for him. However, he described his response like this: “The purpose of the Summit is to construct bridges over the divides separating us. Up until now, it has proven effective: we are communicating with each other, gaining insights from one another, and sharing meals together. Witnessing such unity is genuinely uplifting.”
He was correct, which became more evident when the aforementioned high school student approached the podium. As the final attendee to pose a query at the concluding general session, she followed the common practice where speakers asked participants to begin their questions with their occupational roles and occasionally their locations. With assurance, she stated, “I’m a high school junior from Chicago.” No sooner had those words left her lips than the crowd burst into applause. Merely through her presence and embodying what lies ahead, she served as an poignant reminder for all present about the purpose behind our assembly.
We should feel grateful for having our Constitution, even with its growing list of imperfections. Revamping it might appear overwhelming now, just like preventing misconceptions about it. However, consider how much more challenging things could get without it to adapt. Indeed, this process requires taking a long-term view, considering future generations and beyond.
The Constitution encourages us to believe that we are capable of achieving this.
Rick LaRue discusses the constitutional framework for elections and proposed changes Structure Matters .