Comparative constitutional law reference book
Constitutions of the World is a remarkably concise and useful reference tool for comparing foreign constitutions. The third edition summarizes the constitutions of 119 countries from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, and includes a glossary, bibliography, and table of "Constitutions at a Glance".
Each country entry includes: i) general information about the country and its resources, ii) the type of government, iii) the dates of constitutional revisions, iv) the country's constitutional history, v) influences upon the country's constitution, vi) fundamental rights guarantees, vii) division of powers, viii) the constitutional court, if any, ix) provisions concerning constitutional amendments and x) transitional government provisions, if any. Each country entry is about six pages in length.
This book is well-written and is meticulously organized. Those with moderate exposure to legalese will find it easy to follow. The summaries, more often than not, include citations to the specific articles and amendments discussed. I have used this book as a digest of foreign constitutions. Although it does not cover all of the constitutional states in the world, only the smallest countries are omitted (Burkina Faso, Qatar and Djibouti). It does not contain English translations of the full constitutional texts. To find constitutional documents in English translation, use Oceana's multivolume set, Constitutions of the Countries of the World.
I have read or skimmed each of the 119 entries in this book and have cross-checked all of the citations of constitutional amendment provisions against the English translations of foreign constitutions available in the Oceana set. The summaries contained in this book are remarkably accurate. Although the summaries are no substitute for reading the English translations of the constitutional texts (just as digest entries are no substitute for reading the cases themselves), this book is an excellent starting point for comparative constitutional law research. It makes a great deskbook reference for a comparative constitutional law scholar.
