ABOUT
In the modern era, the making and remaking of constitutions is a key activity of both states and sub-state entities.
Almost all states have gone through the process of drafting and approving a formal constitution text at least once. Indeed, since the Philadelphia Convention of 1787, over a thousand constitutions have been drafted worldwide. This number increases substantially when sub-national constitutions are taken into consideration.
Drafting a constitution is a central facet of most substantial political transformations and serves a variety of purposes. A new constitution can be the hallmark of independence from a country’s former colonial masters; it can be the product of violent, economic, or societal upheavals; it can signify a regime change, be it pro- or even anti-democratic in nature; and it can be born out of the wish to address contemporary challenges, either of a local or a global character.