Comparative Constitutional Environments: HUM12 Reading Environments, 2014
The US Constitution is the oldest functioning constitution in the world and it had long served as the model constitution for other nation builders as they create or reform their own countries (though its influence is waning). Having thoroughly investigated the US Constitution, let’s take a look at the values other nations, especially of late, have incorporated into their constitutions. In particular, given the research focus of this course, we will examine how constitutions confront the environment. Certainly in 1787, what we know today as “environmental consciousness” was not a “thing”—though certainly “nature” was. Today, however, environmental thought has infiltrated political thought in new and important ways. Your job, with a partner, will be to show us how.
Research
1.
Find a partner for your research.
2.
Discuss with your partner what countries might be of interest to both of you and choose one to study.
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Check Andy’s teacher page for links that might help you locate possible countries to research.
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Is there a region of particular interest to one or both of you?
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Are you curious about an older or newer constitution? How might the era a constitution was written influence the document and its conception of “nature”? What sorts of new rights or issues of “environmental justice” have emerged since 1789/1791, when the US constitution and its Bill of
Rights was designed?
3.
Check in with the rest of the class to be sure that no other group is researching the same country.
4.
Once you have chosen a country, find a copy of that country’s constitution online (try http://confinder.richmond.edu). You should primarily work with the text online – if you must print, please print selectively (many modern constitutions are quite lengthy).
5.
Familiarize yourself with the fundamental features of that constitution overall and compare them to those of the US Constitution, then narrow in and focus on environmental provisions. For example, you may look for and compare:
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The preamble (if there is one) – are the purposes for having a government the same as those stated by the US framers?
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Branches of the government and powers granted to each branch
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Checks and balances
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Legislative branch structure, qualifications, terms, etc.
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Court systems and roles, qualifications, terms
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Executive branch structure, election, qualifications, terms, powers
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Bill of rights or other clarification of rights of the citizens
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Specific or explicit protections or provisions regarding nature or the environment. Pay particular attention to the language used surrounding the environment from a legal/governmental perspective.
As you conduct the research, note the aspects of your chosen constitution that are strikingly different or similar to those of the US Constitution.
Presentation:
1.
With your partner, prepare a focused presentation on the environmental provisions you’ve encountered in your country’s constitution to share with the rest of the class (5 – 7 minutes).
2.
Try to speak primarily from memory, even if you use a PowerPoint presentation. Each of you will submit a 1- 2 page summary of your research when you give your presentation and you must cite the websites you use in your research.