Constitutionfor the peopleby the people

Dr. Guðrún PétursdóttirChair, Constitutional Committee, Iceland

Economic collapse 2008 Demand for profound reform

19441874

Iceland declared its independence in 1944. A new constitution was adopted with great national support (98%).Only minor amendments from the old one and general understanding that a profound revision was required asap.

The then King of Denmark and Icelandpresented Icelanders with a Constitution

1944-2010In the hands of the Parliament:

Certain chapters revised - mainly regarding elections and constituencies new chapter on Human rights in 1997. Otherwise no major revisions.

... maybe the Parliament is not the right actor?

... maybe we should involve the public?

2010

How can we involve the public?

National assemblyConstitutional Council

National Assembly

1000 members of the general public – random sample

Representation

AgeGender Location

Thoroughly planned procedure

How IT came in

Information collection and analysis on the spot

Results presented the following day

Report to theConstitutional Council

Constitutional Council

Open electionEveryone could stand (with a few exceptions) 523 candidates25 elected – later appointed

Constitutional Council convened

from April 6th- July 29th 2010

Process open to the publicCouncil meetings open and televised

Draft proposals posted on the website – open to public comments

Public participation through website and social media

3600 public comments

370 formal suggestions from the public,all processed by the Council.

Thus, the bill took shape in the Council, with open exchange of opinion with the

community.

t

This was only possible because of the available technology

The Bill for a new constitutionwas presented to the

Speaker of the Parliament on July 29th 2011

The Constitutional Council wrote a draft for a new Constitution

in only 4 months with open public access.

Will the Parliament manage to finish the task?