Library Guides: Comparative Constitutional Law: Introductory Resources

Introduction

In the introduction to their book "Comparative Constitutional Law" (Edward Elgar Publishing, 2011, U of Chicago, Public Law Working Paper No. 362), Professors Rosalind Dixon and Tom Ginsburg of the University of Chicago write, “Comparative constitutional law is a newly energized field in the early 21st century. Never before has the field had such a broad range of interdisciplinary interest, with lawyers, political scientists, sociologists and even economists making contributions to our collective understanding of how constitutions are formed and how they operate. Never before has there been such demand from courts, lawyers and constitution-makers in a wide range of countries for comparative legal analysis. And never before has the field been so institutionalized, with new regional and international associations providing fora for the exchange of ideas and the organization of collaborative projects."

Introductory Resources

The following papers and articles may provide a helpful introduction to comparative and comparative constitutional law.

Introduction: Comparative Constitutional Law
This Introduction to the research handbook on Comparative Constitutional Law provides a thumbnail history of the field and then surveys the 33 contributions on various substantive topics. It concludes with a brief consideration of future directions.
Introduction: 'The C Word'
Introduction to Ran Hirschl's "Comparative Matters: The Renaissance of Comparative Constitutional Law".
The I·CONnect-Clough Center 2017 Global Review of Constitutional Law
This 2017 Global Review assembles detailed but relatively brief reports on constitutional developments and cases in 61 jurisdictions during the past calendar year. The reports are authored by academic and/or judicial experts, and often the reports are co-authored by judges and scholars.

Constitutions Compared: An Introduction to Comparative Constitutional Law by Aalt Willem Heringa; Philipp Kiiver
Call Number: K3165 .H47
ISBN: 9789050956888
Publication Date: 2007-07-27
This book provides an introduction to comparative constitutional law. It covers the constitutional systems of the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and the Netherlands. The book is intended as a helpful guide for students who are for the first time exploring comparative constitutional law, and as a foundation for more advanced graduate-level courses. The books comparative approach is thematic: a general introduction to concepts of constitutional law is provided, and the different systems are then discussed by subject-matter under the following headings: Origins and main features of constitutions; Federalism, unitarism and decentralization; Parliaments and lawmaking; Governments, their parliaments and their heads of state; Judicial review and human rights. In addition, the book discusses the constitutional impact of the European Union, the system of human-rights protection under the European Convention on Human Rights, and the interaction between the EU, European human rights, and national constitutions. The book includes a table giving an overview of the systems discussed, a glossary, and a selection of important provisions from national constitutions and international treaties.
Comparative Legal Traditions by Mary Ann Glendon; Paolo G. Carozza; Colin B. Picker
Call Number: K560 .G43 2008
ISBN: 9780314184283
Publication Date: 2008-08-18
An introduction to comparative law written from the American lawyer's viewpoint rather than that of the European civil law lawyer. This expert discussion concentrates on the three major legal traditions of the West: civil, common, and socialist. Subjects covered include legal structures in civil law nations; legal actors in civil law tradition; procedure; substantive law; sources of law; judicial process; and rules. Also contains chapters on the European Union and the European human rights system.

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Comparative Constitutional Law

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