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Today’s Topics Constitutions and Economic Reform

Today’s Topics Constitutions and Economic Reform. Concluding executive institutional design. Modes of constitution-making. Best time for a constitution? Reasons for real-life constitutional choices. Group discussion activity. Risks for democracy during economic reforms. .

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Today’s Topics Constitutions and Economic Reform

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  1. Today’s TopicsConstitutions and Economic Reform • Concluding executive institutional design. • Modes of constitution-making. • Best time for a constitution? • Reasons for real-life constitutional choices. • Group discussion activity. • Risks for democracy during economic reforms.

  2. Conclusion: Designing Executive Institutions • There are potential dangers in presidential institutions, but also ways of varying presidential power. • View of ideal institutions depends on values considered important (effectiveness vs. limited powers?).

  3. Constitution-Making

  4. What is a constitution? • Often a set of specific laws collectively referred to as the constitution. • Deemed more fundamental than other laws. • Typically more difficult to change than regular legislation.

  5. Institutional conventions may be written or unwritten • Unwritten constitution: • Great Britain. • Unwritten procedures: • Canada: Cabinet not included in constitution.

  6. Modes of constitution-making Autocratically: handed down unilaterally by a leader (e.g. Napoleon’s or Lenin’s) Democratically: negotiated by elected assembly (e.g. South Africa, Poland)

  7. Timing of constitutions: Best time to adopt a new constitution?

  8. Constitutions should be adopted in calm conditions, since intended to last through the ages. But time when a new constitution is needed is typically a time of great anxiety and chaos. Dilemma of constitution-making:(Jon Elster)

  9. How do real-life political actors choose institutions?

  10. Theories on how institutions chosen: • Historical legacy. • Strong leader tradition. • Particular institutions.

  11. Theories on how institutions chosen: • Preferences of strongest actors (Geddes/ Elster). • Clear strongest party  plurality & presidential system. • Constitution drafted by legislature  strong legislative powers.

  12. Theories on how institutions chosen: • Concern about key constituencies. • United States • South Africa

  13. Theories on how institutions chosen: • Mimicking foreign constitutions. • Hungary • Many new constitutions copy established democratic constitutions.

  14. Institutions tend to become “sticky” once adopted. (Geddes)

  15. Small-Group Discussion: Designing Institutions • Iraq, South Africa, Russia groups. • Would you have a presidential or parliamentary executive? Mechanisms for balancing powers? • What would the electoral system be for electing legislative and executive leaders? • What are your reasons for choosing these institutions?

  16. Democratization & Economic Reform

  17. Dangers for democratic regime • Economic deterioration may erode people’s attachment to democracy. • Extremist parties may gain power. • Growth of voter apathy. • Danger of coups.

  18. Dangers for democratic regime • Leaders may seek to “ram through” reforms to break political logjams. • Strong presidency or multiparty parliament preferable?

  19. Common issues of conflict and controversy • Role of the state in economic development. • Distributional consequences of reform (who gets what?). • Government accountability.

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