TU : Why Democracy Is Hard

Drafting a Constitution

Does your country of origin have a constitution that sets forth its fundamental principles? Would you have liked to have helped draft it?

As part of our non-core course “Why Democracy Is Hard,” led by Prof. Marc Smyrl, we were invited to a workshop aimed at collectively drafting the constitution of a fictional country called IDILIA. This activity led us to reflect on several questions:
Is it appropriate to establish a legislative body in our nation? How many authorities would be needed for it to function properly? How should we select its representatives? How can we ensure the system is fair? How can we draft a text that is clear and accessible to all citizens?

These questions, among others, have helped deepen our understanding of fundamental principles such as sovereignty, freedom, equality, and participation in the development and functioning of a democratic society.

What is a non-core course?

This is an introductory course in a new field, designed to help our students develop multidisciplinary knowledge that fosters critical thinking and the scientific method.

For more information, click on " Program Customization."