Università Roma Tre

The course introduces some of the main topics in the field of comparative constitutional law and the intersections between constitutional law and the digital revolution, with a focus on the Western legal tradition and constitutional democracy. It is organized in four modules. Module I. on State, constitutionalism(s), constitutional democracy and beyond (Lessons 1-10) presents the historical trajectory of constitutionalism towards constitutional democracy as well as the Russian and Chinese counter-models. Module II. on Crosscutting issues of constitutional democracy (Lessons 11-16) presents some relevant issues for constitutional democracies, including constitutional safeguards, horizontal and vertical separation of powers, systems of government. Module III. on Fundamental rights and the digital revolution (Lessons 18-21) focuses on Dignity, Freedom of Expression, Equality and non-discrimination, Freedom of thought and religion and on the impact of new technologies on them. Module IV. on Perspectives on digital democracy and digital constitutionalism (Lessons 22-27) investigates form a more general perspective the main challenges of the digital revolution for constitutional democracies. Lessons 17 and 28 are devoted to students’ presentations and to the final test respectively. For a meaningful participation in classes, it is essential to go through the assigned readings


I. STATE, CONSTITUTIONALISM(S), CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY AND BEYOND
1. Friday 20 October 8-10
Comparative constitutional law, constitutionalism and the digital revolution | Course structure and practical info

2. Wednesday 25 October 14-16
State, Constitutionalism, rights: three traditions

3. Thursday 26 October 14-16
From liberal to constitutional democracy: values and principles

4. Friday 27 October 8-10
From liberal to constitutional democracy: society, economy, and history

5. Wednesday 1 November 14-16
The crisis of constitutional democracy

6. Thursday 2 November 14-16
Crisis of constitutional democracy: crisis of the State?

7. Wednesday 8 November 14-16
Beyond the Western legal tradition

8. Thursday 9 November 14-16
The State beyond the western legal tradition: Russia

9. Friday 10 November 8-10
The State beyond the western legal tradition: China

10. Friday 10 November 10-12
Guest lecture by Shu Zghang (Deakin Law School), Introduction to Chinese Law

II. CROSSCUTTING ISSUES OF CONSTITUTIONAL DEMOCRACY
11. Wednesday 15 November 14-16
Constitutional safeguards I: constitutional review

12. Thursday 16 November 14-16
Constitutional safeguards II: Amending the Constitution

13. Friday 17 November 8-10
Separation(s) of powers and the political question doctrine

14. Wednesday 22 November 14-16
Legislative-executive relations and systems of government: parliamentarism

15. Thursday 23 November 14-16
Legislative-executive relations and systems of government: presidentialism and semi-presidentialism


16. Friday 24 November 8-10
Federalizing processes and vertical separation of powers

17. Wednesday 29 November 14-16
Student presentations (20 minutes each)

III. FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND THE DIGITAL REVOLUTION
18. Thursday 30 November 14-16
From rights to dignity

19. Friday 1 December 8-10
Freedom of Expression

20. Wednesday 6 December 14-16
Equality and non-discrimination

21. Thursday 7 December 14-16
Religious freedom - Guest lecture

IV. PERSPECTIVES ON DIGITAL DEMOCRACY AND DIGITAL CONSTITUTIONALISM

22. Wednesday 13 December 14-16
Elections

23. Thursday 14 December 14-16
Parliaments

24. Friday 15 December 8-10
Guest lecture by Peng Guo - The digital and public power

25. Wednesday 20 December 14-16
The digital and private powers: regulating platforms

26. Thursday 21 December 14-16
Data sovereignty and digital constitutionalism

27. Friday 22 December 8-10
Digital constitutionalism in Europe and across the Atlantic

V. FINAL TEST
28. Friday 22 December 10-12
Written essay

Readings will be listed in the syllabus and provided through the e-learning platform.

A. Buratti, Western Constitutionalism, History, Institutions, Comparative Law, Springer, 2019 (for student non attending classes)