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The web activities presented here are not exhaustive on the topics. They are meant to help you become more information literate and accustom you to reading scholarship and reports. Please ask your professor for assistance if you don’t understand. Learning is a process. We don’t expect you to become an expert in just one semester. Do always cite your sources when completing these activities.
Chapter 8: Constitutional Design
a) Look at the list of federal countries in the world on the Forum of Federations website. Do research to determine why and under what conditions this country became federal in the first place. What does this imply in terms of general theories about why federalism emerges? Based on your account, can you develop a hypothesis for testing in other federations? If possible, do a brief comparative check from one other federation to see if your hypothesis “travels” there as well, and report your results.
b) Find a country with a written constitution that is longer than the constitution of the United States. Compare the U.S. Constitution with the constitution of the other country, with an eye toward any additional rights enumerated in the constitution of the other country. What are these other rights (if any)? Can you determine to what extent these additional rights are better enforced or protected in the other country, relative to the United States?