Organizations & Think Tanks

  • Association des Cours Constitutionnelles Francophones (ACCF):
    L’association des Cours constitutionnelles ayant en partage l’usage du français (ACCPUF) a été créée en 1997 à l’initiative du Conseil constitutionnel français, afin de renforcer les liens entre les membres de l’espace francophone. Appelée depuis mai 2019, Association des cours constitutionnelles francophones (ACCF), elle rassemble aujourd’hui 50 Cours constitutionnelles et institutions équivalentes d’Afrique, d’Europe, d’Amérique et d’Asie.
    https://accf-francophonie.org

  • Carnegie Endowment for International Peace:
    In an increasingly crowded, chaotic, and contested world and marketplace of ideas, the Carnegie Endowment offers decisionmakers global, independent, and strategic insight and innovative ideas that advance international peace.
    https://carnegieendowment.org

  • Center for Constitutional Rights (CCR):
    The Center for Constitutional Rights is dedicated to advancing and protecting the rights guaranteed by the United States Constitution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. CCR is committed to the creative use of law as a positive force for social change. We do that by combining cutting-edge litigation, advocacy and strategic communications in work on a broad range of civil and human rights issues.
    https://ccrjustice.org/

  • Center for Constitutional Democracy:
    The CCD is a pioneer in the development of the emerging discipline of constitutional design, which provides an in-depth understanding of how law contributes to democratic institutions, democratic practices, and democratic cultural evolution. We train students in this evolving area of expertise, preparing them to support reform and to promote peace and justice in a global environment.
    http://ccd.indiana.edu/

  • Center for Constitutional Studies and Democratic Development:
    The CCSDD is a research partnership between the School of Law of the University of Bologna and the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies in Bologna, Italy (SAIS Europe). The CCSDD conducts research and training in the field of comparative constitutional law, focusing on countries undergoing a process of democratic transition. Through conferences, workshops, publications, summer schools, study trips, and speaker series, the CCSDD addresses issues of civil society development and legal reform. The Center’s current research focuses on EU enlargement, contemporary political and constitutional transformations in North Africa, the role of constitutional courts in Central Asia, as well as electoral management bodies. Each year, the CCSDD conducts a number of programs including the “European Union and Legal Reform” Summer School in Montenegro, the Sarajevo Study Trip, and the CCSDD Lecture Series.
    http://www.ccsdd.org/

  • Center for Constitutional Transitions:
    Constitutional Transitions produces evidence-based policy options for decision-makers that equip them to design better and more effective constitution building processes. Our work is field-driven, and designed for use in the field. Our projects focus on issues which are of critical importance to the success of constitutional transitions, and in respect of which there has been a lack of adequate, up-to-date research — a lacuna that has impeded the effectiveness of technical assistance.
    Constitutional Transitions also produces agenda-setting research, by examining issues that have been under-examined and which are of great contemporary significance. We bring together theory and practice, making both stronger in the process.
    http://www.constitutionaltransitions.org/

  • International IDEA (Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance):
    The International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) is an intergovernmental organization that supports sustainable democracy worldwide. The organization is governed by its Statutes, the latest of which entered into force November 2008. Membership in International IDEA is open to governments which demonstrate, by example in their own state, their commitment to the rule of law, human rights, the basic principles of democratic pluralism and strengthening democracy.
    http://www.idea.int/

  • Constitution Net:
    ConstitutionNet is a project created to support legislators, constitutional lawyers and other constitutional practitioners in finding useful and relevant information, sharing knowledge and building a community of best practice.
    On ConstitutionNet, you will find:
    • Knowledge Resources and Tools, covering a variety of topics relating to constitutional design and constitution building processes,
    • Voices from the Field, providing expert analysis on constitutional developments around the world,
    • What We Are Reading, sharing the latest constitutional news,
    • Country Profiles, collating relevant constitutional information by country,
    • Video Library, featuring our Constitutions Made Simple video series.
    http://www.constitutionnet.org/

  • Constitutional Accountability Center:
    Constitutional Accountability Center (CAC) is a think tank, law firm, and action center dedicated to fulfilling the progressive promise of our Constitution’s text and history. We work in our courts, through our government, and with legal scholars to preserve the rights and freedoms of all in America and to protect our judiciary from politics and special interests.
    http://www.theusconstitution.org/

  • Council of Europe: Venice Commission:
    The European Commission for Democracy through Law – better known as the Venice Commission as it meets in Venice – is the Council of Europe’s advisory body on constitutional matters. The role of the Venice Commission is to provide legal advice to its member states and, in particular, to help states wishing to bring their legal and institutional structures into line with European standards and international experience in the fields of democracy, human rights and the rule of law. It also helps to ensure the dissemination and consolidation of a common constitutional heritage, playing a unique role in conflict management, and provides “emergency constitutional aid” to states in transition.
    The Commission works in three areas:
    • democratic institutions and fundamental rights
    • constitutional justice and ordinary justice
    • elections, referendums and political parties.
    The Commission shares the standards and best practices adopted within the countries of the Council of Europe beyond its borders notably in neighboring countries.
    Its permanent secretariat is located in Strasbourg, France, at the headquarters of the Council of Europe. Its plenary sessions are held in Venice, Italy, at the Scuola Grande di San Giovanni Evangelista, four times a year (March, June, October and December).
    http://www.venice.coe.int/

  • Democracy Reporting International (DRI):
    Democracy Reporting International (DRI) was founded in 2006 by an international group of experts on democratic governance and elections. Recognizing a gap in a field that was dominated by big intergovernmental organisations and commercial consultancies, they decided to form a non-governmental, independent organisation that could analyse democratic developments and advise on constitutional and electoral frameworks quickly and flexibly. Over the years, DRI has broadened its work from research and analysis to direct engagement with partners on the ground to improve democratic structures and safeguards across the countries where we work. It has evolved from a part-time hobby for a handful of people to an organisation with almost 100 staff, spread across eight countries and three continents.
    https://democracy-reporting.org/en/office/global

  • European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights:
    To counter injustice with legal interventions – this is the aim and daily work of the European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights. ECCHR is an independent, non-profit legal and educational organization dedicated to enforcing civil and human rights worldwide. It was founded in 2007 by Wolfgang Kaleck and other international human rights lawyers to protect and enforce the rights guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, as well as other human rights declarations and national constitutions, through legal means. Together with those affected and partners worldwide, ECCHR uses legal means to end impunity for those responsible for torture, war crimes, sexual and gender-based violence, corporate exploitation and fortressed borders.
    http://www.ecchr.eu/

  • European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMED):
    The European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), founded in 1989, is a think and do tank specialised in Euro-Mediterranean relations. It provides policy-oriented and evidence-based research underpinned by a genuine Euromed multidimensional and inclusive approach. The aim of the IEMed, in accordance with the principles of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership (EMP), the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM), is to stimulate reflection and action that contribute to mutual understanding, exchange and cooperation between the different Mediterranean countries, societies and cultures, and to promote the progressive construction of a space of peace and stability, shared prosperity and dialogue between cultures and civilisations in the Mediterranean. The IEMed is a consortium comprising the Catalan Government, the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, the European Union and Barcelona City Council. It also incorporates civil society through its Board of Trustees and its Advisory Council.
    https://www.iemed.org/vision-mission/

  • IACL (International Association of Constitutional law)/AIDC: (l’Association Internationale de Droit Constitutionnel)
    In the last thirty years, new constitutional systems have been developed in all parts of the world. At the same time, more established constitutional systems are facing unprecedented challenges, many of which are associated with the new global order. Despite the great differences between countries and systems, it is apparent that constitutional scholars and jurists throughout the world are grappling with many comparable problems. These include, for example, the manner of enforcement of fundamental rights (particularly the ‘second generation’ of social and economic rights), and the challenges posed by 9/11 and its aftermath to our understanding of the role and value of human rights. The growing number of judicial decisions at the supra-national and international levels also raises new questions for domestic constitutional systems, which are only just beginning to be tackled.
    The degree of difference between constitutional systems depends of course on the history, culture and legal tradition of the countries concerned. The overriding objective of the IACL is to provide a forum in which constitutionalists from all parts of the world can begin to understand each other’s systems, explain and reflect on their own, and engage in fruitful comparison, for a variety of purposes. To this end, the Association endeavours to ensure that its processes and activities are suited to its diverse membership, whilst at the same time retaining the scientific and scholarly approach on which the credibility of its work depends.
    The overriding objective of the International Associtaion of Constitutional Law (IACL) is to provide a forum in which constitutionalists from all parts of the world can begin to understand each other’s systems, explain and reflect on their own, and engage in fruitful comparison, for a variety of purposes.
    https://iacl-aidc.org/index.php/en/

  • International Constitutional Law (ICL):
    This project provides English translations of and other textual material related to constitutional documents. It cross-references those documents for quick comparison of constitutional provisions. These are the rules we try to rely on:
    • All translations and ICL-Editions of publicly available translations are in American English to simplify comparative research. However, British English is used for documents officially published in that language.
    • Paragraphs are numbered, inofficial titles put in square brackets to be included into the table of contents.
    • News and background information is fact oriented.
    A set of ICL-keys is provided for most ICL-editions; we also include internal references to other provisions of the constitution.
    As a separate document, you will find a primer on International Constitutional Law And Comparing Constitutions with more details about the project’s purposes and some references to related literature.
    https://www.servat.unibe.ch/icl/info.html

  • Laboratoire Méditerranéen de Droit Public:
    L’association repose sur l’échange, le partage, la recherche et l’information mutuelle de ses membres et sympathisants ainsi que sur la diffusion des connaissances relatives au(x) droit(s) public(s) méditerranéen(s). Pour ce faire, le Laboratoire Méditerranéen de Droit Public matérialisera son activité principalement par l’organisation de conférences, colloques, séminaires et autres workshops. Le résultat de cette activité donnera lieu à des publications électroniques et / ou aux formats imprimés « papier ».
    http://lm-dp.org/

  • Montesquieu Institute:
    The Montesquieu Institute Maastricht focuses on parliamentary systems of government in Europe and in the European Union, on aspects of separation of power, democracy and the rule of law and human rights. The Institute’s aim is to contribute to the academic and public debate on democracy and governance in the European Union and its member-states by deepening the understanding of the constitutional structures and political practice of national systems of parliamentary government and rule of law and democracy. It takes a thoroughly comparative approach to parliamentary studies in a European context and analyses national systems in a vertical multi-layered perspective.
    With its focus, the constitutional law research is well suited to the faculty and university themes related to globalisation, Europeanisation and comparative law, as laid down in the two research pillars about Global Justice and Institutional Transformation.
    https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/mi

  • Institut Louis Favoreu – Groupe d’études et de Recherches comparées sur la Justice Constitutionnelle:
    L’institut Louis Favoreu – Groupe d’études et de Recherches comparées sur la Justice Constitutionnelle regroupe des chercheurs et enseignants-chercheurs dont les champs de recherche sont tournés vers l’étude de la justice constitutionnelle comparée, les droits fondamentaux dans leur dimension nationale, comparée et transnationale, les systèmes normatifs et l’approfondissement et la reconstruction de l’État de droit.
    https://dice.univ-amu.fr/fr/dice/ilf

  • Open Democracy:
    OpenDemocracy is an independent global media organisation
    Through reporting and analysis of social and political issues, we seek to educate citizens to challenge power and encourage democratic debate across the world.
    https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/about/

  • Re:Constitution (Exchange and Analysis on Democracy and the Rule of Law in Europe):
    The fundamental role of the rule of law in protecting rights and democracy in Europe has increasingly been called into question in recent years, resulting in shifting political dynamics in national and European contexts. The re:constitution program deals with these shifts and intends to inspire comprehensive discussion between legal scholars and practitioners about and around questions of democracy, the rule of law, protection of fundamental rights in Europe – across borders and the entire political spectrum.
    https://www.reconstitution.eu/en/home.html

  • Themistocles and Dimitris Tsatsos Foundation – Centre for European Constitutional Law:
    The Themistocles and Dimitris Tsatsos Foundation – Centre for European Constitutional Law (CECL) is a renowned European research institute. It is a non-profit organization founded by the late Professor Dr. Dr. h.c. mult. Dimitris Th. Tsatsos in 1995, located in Athens. The Foundation aims to promote the development of democratic institutions, fundamental rights and the welfare state; to deepen European integration; and to strengthen international cooperation under the principle of respect to the cultural identity of each state. The specific objectives of the Foundation are to provide institutional know-how and capacity-building to public bodies in Greece, developing countries and member-states of the European Union, to undertake theoretical and applied research in the fields of Greek, European and comparative public law and public policies; and to promote public awareness on developments in the European area. To this date, the Foundation participating in numerous European and National Projects has undertaken research, consulting and institution-building projects in more than 20 countries worldwide, and maintains an active network of collaborating institutions and highly qualified experts.
    https://www.cecl.gr/en/

  • United Nations Development Program:
    UNDP works in about 170 countries and territories, helping to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and exclusion, and build resilience so countries can sustain progress. As the UN’s development agency, UNDP plays a critical role in helping countries achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
    http://www.undp.org/

  • Walter Hallstein-Institute for European Constitutional Law (WHI):
    The Walter Hallstein-Institute for European Constitutional Law (WHI) is an academic institution of the Faculty of Law of the Humboldt University Berlin. It was founded in October 1997 by Prof. Dr. Michael Kloepfer and Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Ingolf Pernice who was head of the institute until spring 2016. When appointed successor to Prof. Pernice’s chair, Prof. Dr. Matthias Ruffert was also entrusted to lead the institute.
    The Institute is based on the staff and premises of the Chair for Public Law and European Law of the Law Faculty. It is third-party-funded and supported by a friends’ association. Initial financing had been provided by the European Commission. An extensive description of the institute by Prof. Pernice can be found here (in German)
    https://www.rewi.hu-berlin.de/en/lf/oe/whi/about-the-institute

  • Center for Global Constitutionalism:
    The Center for Global Constitutionalism as a platform for problem-focused basic research is focused on addressing three kinds of resulting questions:
    – How are existing institutions, procedures and standards to be interpreted, progressively developed or reformed, in order to ensure that the rule of democratically legitimate and human rights respecting law, can successfully be developed beyond the state, even in the face of deep political disagreement across states?
    – If there are common standards, according to which all states must comply with norms relating to the rule of law, democracy and human rights, exactly how are these standards to be understood? Through what kind of mechanisms should the global spread and enforcement of these standards be supported?
    – The Center for Global Constitutionalism also examines different theoretical and historical questions, that concern the relationship between the rule of law, democracy and human rights itself. This includes questions concerning the history and theory of citizenship, European integration, the regulation of markets and the theory of human rights.
    www.wzb.eu/en/research/trans-sectoral-research/center-for-global-constitutionalism

  • The National Constitution Center:
    The National Constitution Center in Philadelphia brings together people of all ages and perspectives, across America and around the world, to learn about, debate, and celebrate the greatest vision of human freedom in history, the U.S. Constitution. A private, nonprofit organization, the Center serves as America’s leading platform for constitutional education and debate, fulfilling its congressional charter “to disseminate information about the U.S. Constitution on a nonpartisan basis.”
    https://constitutioncenter.org/about

  • Australian Association of Constitutional Law, Australia:
    The Australian Association of Constitutional Law was formed in 1998 as a forum for scholars and practitioners of constitutional law throughout Australia. The Council of the Association, elected every two years, has principal responsibility for organising Association activities. The Aims of the AACL:
    • develop and promote the discipline of constitutional law in Australia
    • support teaching, research and the practice of the law which relates to the discipline
    • provide a forum for the exchange of knowledge and information between practitioners, teachers and other interested persons regarding the discipline
    • increase public awareness and understanding of the discipline
    • liaise with other bodies in the promotion of any of the above objects
    Phone: 0425 853 936
    Email: secretariat@aacl.asn.au
    www.aacl.asn.au

  • Center for Comparative Constitutional Studies, Australia:
    The Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies (CCCS) is one of the Law School’s specialist research centers and was established in the Faculty of Law in 1987. The CCCS undertakes and promotes research on the constitutional law and government of Australia and of other countries and provides a focal point for scholars and practitioners interested in these areas. The Centre seeks to focus greater attention on Australian constitutional law and government and of other countries whose systems are most relevant to Australia. This is reflected in the Centre’s current objectives which it pursues through its many activities.
    The Centre is the current Secretariat for the Australian Association of Constitutional Law (AACL) which was formed in 1998 and is an incorporated, non-profit body funded by membership subscriptions. The Association aims to promote the discipline of constitutional law through interaction, communication, exchange and debate. Key activities include annual national conferences and an annual general meeting, State and Territory seminars, events and information sessions, participation in the International Association of Constitutional Law (IACL), receipt of a quarterly email newsletter and the development and maintenance of a constitutional law web-site. The objectives of the Centre for Comparative Constitutional Studies are:
    • To examine and evaluate the Australian constitutional system and to contribute actively to the debate on the Australian system of government.
    • To examine and advise on the constitutional and legal framework for relations between levels of government, in theory and practical operation.
    • To introduce comparative constitutional concepts and knowledge about comparative constitutional practices into the Australian constitutional debate.
    • To develop and promote a sound understanding of the constitutional systems of countries in the neighbouring region, both in underlying and practical operation.
    • To contribute to the debate on constitutional issues elsewhere in the world in the light of the experience of Australia and the Asia-Pacific region.
    • To provide a public and specialist resource on constitutional and comparative constitutional issues.
    Tel +61 3 8344 4799
    Email law-cccs@unimelb.edu.au
    https://law.unimelb.edu.au/

  • Center for Constitutional Studies and Democratic Development, Italy:
    The CCSDD is a research partnership between the School of Law of the University of Bologna and the Johns Hopkins University Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies in Bologna, Italy (SAIS Europe).
    The CCSDD conducts research and training in the field of comparative constitutional law, focusing on countries undergoing a process of democratic transition. Through conferences, workshops, publications, summer schools, study trips, and speaker series, the CCSDD addresses issues of civil society development and legal reform.
    The Center’s current research focuses on EU enlargement, contemporary political and constitutional transformations in North Africa, the role of constitutional courts in Central Asia, as well as electoral management bodies. Each year, the CCSDD conducts a number of programs including the “European Union and Legal Reform” Summer School in Montenegro, the Sarajevo Study Trip, and the CCSDD Lecture Series.
    www.ccsdd.org

  • Center for Political and Constitutional Studies, Spain:
    The Centre for Political and Constitutional Studies in Madrid is an organization attached to the Spanish Ministry of Presidency. The mission of the Centre is to foster analysis of national and international political, constitutional and administrative systems. It pays particular attention to questions related to Spanish law and to Latin-American institutions and their relations with Europe. The current inter-disciplinary research programmes are concerned with territorial structure and federalism; democratization, the rule of law and constitutional reform; immigration; gender issues; and the EU – with a particular focus on EU constitutionalism. CEPC owns the most important publishing house specialised in Constitutional Law and Political Science in Spanish and it has a 80,000 volumes Library which is open to the general public.
    http://www.cepc.gob.es/

  • Centre for Asian Legal Studies and the Asian Law Institute at the National University of Singapore:
    The Centre for Asian Legal Studies (CALS) was established in 2012 as part of NUS Law’s strategic positioning as Asia’s Global Law School. It is the first of its kind to be established in Asia. Today, CALS plays a pivotal role in developing legal scholarship within the region, offering emerging and established scholars opportunities to spend time at NUS Law to research, teach, and participate in conferences. Our four research clusters serve as intellectual nodes for the Centre’s research agenda. 1) Comparative Public Law, 2) Law and Religion; 3) Comparative commercial law; 4) Comparative Civil Law Traditions.
    https://law.nus.edu.sg/