Sir James Dunn Law Library
Resources and Links
Researching comparative constitutional law usually involves locating three different
types of materials:
1. the text of the constitutions,
2. scholarly writings about your topic, and if possible,
3. relevant case law from the selected country.
1. Sources for Constitutions
The text of foreign constitutions may be found in a variety of sources including both print
and electronic mediums. Current constitutions are often available on foreign
government web sites, but usually only in the local language. The publications listed
below are large collections of foreign constitutions (usually in English).
If these sources do not have the necessary constitution, consult Foreign Law: Current
Sources of Codes and Basic Legislation (T. Reynolds & A. Flores, Buffalo, NY: Hein,
1989 - ) [DALLAW LAW BIBL K 20.A1 R46]. Just locate your jurisdiction and then see
the "Constitution and Political Legislation" subject heading to locate citations that
provide the text of the constitution.
Selected Titles
Constitutions of the countries of the world : a series of updated texts, constitutional
chronologies and annotated bibliographies ; A.P. Blaustein and G.H. Flanz eds. (Dobbs
Ferry, NY: Oceana Publications, 1971-) [KB 22 C75].
Constitutions of the countries of the world : Historic constitutions ; Albert P. Blaustein &
Gisbert H. Flanz eds. (Dobbs Ferry, NY: Oceana, 1983-) [KB 22 C75 Hist.]
Selected Web sites
The Constitution Finder <http://confinder.richmond.edu>
International Constitutional Law <http://www.oefre.unibe.ch/law/icl/index.html >
National Constitutions <http://www.constitution.org/cons/natlcons.htm>
Constitutions of the Americas
<http://www.georgetown.edu/LatAmerPolitical/Constitutions/constitutions.html>
Native American Constitutions and Law Digitization Project
<http://thorpe.ou.edu/const.html>
Rise of Modern Constitutionalism, 1776 – 1849 <http://www.modern-constitutions.de/>
This site seeks to include all constitutions that these scholars consider part of the
constitutional movement during these years.
Constitutional Law (Washlaw Web Site) < http://www.washlaw.edu/ >
Researching Constitutional Law <http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/~llou/conlaw.html>
Centre for Constitutional Studies (Edmonton, Alberta)
<http://www.law.ualberta.ca/centres/ccs/>
Center for Comparative Constitutionalism (Chicago, IL) <http://ccc.uchicago.edu/>
Columbia’s Human & Constitutional Rights Web Page <http://www.hrcr.org/index.html>
Constitution-Making Web Links (USIP)
<http://www.usip.org/library/topics/constitution.html>
2. Commentary and Analysis
Scholarly writings provide detailed analysis, comparative discussions and historical
perspective. Very often these materials summarize, quote, reprint, and cite legislation,
case law and other pertinent primary and secondary sources. Scholarly materials are
not usually available free on the web. However, the library subscribes to some useful
databases that are accessible electronically.
Use the Novanet online catalog to locate materials in the library.
There are several ways to search for a document:
1) you can search by the Library of Congress Subject Heading for works under a
specific heading (see list of selected key subjects below),
Constitutions
Constitutional amendments
Constitutional conventions
Constitutional courts
Constitutional courts – [country]
Constitutional law
Constitutional law – [country]
Constitutional law – Cases
Constitutional law – Digests
Constitutional law (Islamic law)
Comparative law
Constitutional history
Constitutional history – [country]
2) you can search by using keywords. Sample word searches could be
“constitution and South Africa” or “France and constitutional history”,
3) and you a search by a specific author’s name.
If you have chosen to use keywords or authors’ names you can use the catalogue
record to find other books on that topic or by that author. Once you locate a book that is
on point, use those subject headings to locate other materials on the same topic - by
clicking “similar items” or clicking the subject heading.
Selected Titles
The following titles are just a sampling of publications owned by the library providing
commentary on constitutional law.
Comparative constitutional law. Jackson, Vicki C. (New York, N.Y. : Foundation Press,
1999.) [DALLAW LAW RESV K 552 J14]
Comparing constitutions. Finer, S. E. (Samuel Edward). (Oxford : Clarendon Press ;
New York : Oxford University Press, 1995.) DALLAW LAW K 552 F49.
Constitutions of the world. Maddex, Robert L.(Washington, D.C. : Congressional
Quarterly, 1995.) DALLAW LAW K 552 M171.
Textes constitutionnels et documents politiques. Mény, Yves. (Paris: Montchrestien,
1989.) DALLAW LAW K 552 M541 T35.
Constitutions that made history (New York: Paragon House Publishers, c1988.)
DALLAW LAW KB 22 C751.
Written constitutions: a computerized comparative study / Maarseveen, H. Th. J. F. van.
(Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, 1978.) DALLAW LAW K552 M111
Constitutions and constitutional trends since World War II: an examination of significant
aspects of postwar public law with particular reference to the new constitutions of
Western Europe / Zurcher, Arnold John (Westport, Conn.: Greenwood Press, 1975,
c1955.) DALLAW LAW K552 Z96
Legal Periodicals
Periodical literature is a good way to obtain background information, locate the text of a
foreign law or citation, or to find scholarly commentary about a subject. Sometimes,
periodicals are your only source for foreign laws or case summaries. Indexes are the
most efficient and comprehensive means of locating articles. Remember, Westlaw and
Lexis have limited full text journals and limited international journal coverage. A selected
list of periodical indexes and online sources follows:
Indexes
Index to Legal Periodicals (New York: H.W. Wilson Co.) Accessible electronically
through the library's website. Also available on Lexis and Westlaw.
LegalTrac (Infotrac) Accessible electronically through the library’s website.
Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals (Chicago: American Association of Law Libraries,
1960- ) 3rd floor. Periodical indexes.
Index to Canadian Legal Literature (Agincourt, Ont.: Carswell Legal Publications, 1985-)
2nd and 3rd floor. Periodical Indexes. Also available on WestlaweCARSWELL and
Lexis/Quicklaw (ICLL database).
Full Text Articles
You can check the Law Library’s list of journals available electronically through our
subscription services like HeinOnline, or through your complimentary access to
WestlaweCarswell, Lexis or Quicklaw. E-journals page:
<http://www.library.dal.ca/law/Resources/e-journals.html>
HeinOnline provides full text images from dozens of legal periodicals and other legal
classics. Great for historical research since older volumes are not on Westlaw or Lexis.
Electronic access from the library’s web page.
3. Court Decisions
Keep in mind that in many countries, court decisions are not considered primary law
and there may not be an official publication for decisions. For many countries, only the
country's highest court will issue its decisions. In these cases, periodical literature may
be the best and only source for decisions. The strategies and sources below can help
you get started.
1. Search Novanet using keyword searching such as “court and decisions and Canada”
or by subject heading such as “Constitutional law –[country] – Cases” or “Law reports,
digests, etc. – [country].
2. Check the sections on "Court Reports" in T. Reynolds & A. Flores, Foreign Law:
Current Sources of Codes and Basic Legislation in Jurisdictions of the World (Littleton,
Colo.: F.B. Rothman, 1989- ) [BIBL K 20.A1 R46]. These sections will tell you whether
the country issues official reports or if you must look in other sources, such as
periodicals.
3. Lexis and Westlaw contain summaries or full-text case law from selected countries.
Consult their directories for more information.
Selected Titles of Constitutional Courts Decisions
International Law Reports (London: Butterworth) [JX 68 I61].
International Legal Materials (Washington, DC: American Society of International Law,
1962- ) [JX 68 I611]. Also available on HeinOnline, LEXIS and WESTLAW from 1980 to
present.
Law Reports of the Commonwealth (Abingdon, Oxfordsire : Professional Books, 1985-).
[4th floor.Aisle 49].
The Supreme Court Decisions on the Canadian Constitution (Toronto : J. Lorimer,
1981) [KB22 CAN S95].
A Digest of Australian Constitutional Cases (North Ryde, N.S.W.: Law Book Co., 1992)
[KB 22 AUS L26 D57 1988].
Selected Web sites
World Law Guide (Courts/Cases) <http://www.lexadin.nl/wlg/courts/nofr/courts.htm>.
Links to Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Bodies
<http://www.venice.coe.int/site/main/Documents_E.asp>.
International Supreme Court Decisions < http://www.globalcourts.com/>.
World Law Links: Courts and Case Law < http://www.worldlii.org/catalog/2172.html >
Handbooks and Citation Guides
Banks on Using a Law Library: A Canadian Guide to Legal Research, 6th ed.
[RESV KB 15 B21 1994]
Canadian Guide to Uniform Legal Citation, 5th ed. [RESV KB 15 C211 2002]
Legal Writing and Research Manual, 6th ed. [RESV KB 15 Y54 2004]
Legal Research Handbook, 5th ed. [RESV KB 15 M141 2003]
Reference Desk
(902) 494-3419
Reference Desk: lawref@dal.ca
http://www.library.dal.ca/law