CHAPTERS
- 0:00 – 0:30
Iceland’s citizen-led constitution as a “second shock” in democratic innovation
Hélène Landemore describes encountering the Icelandic constitutional process in 2012 and feeling stunned by how radically it reimagined citizen participation. She frames it as proof that ordinary people—not just career politicians—can meaningfully take part in foundational lawmaking.
- •Landemore calls the Icelandic process her “second shock”
- •2012 conference in Reykjavik as the moment of exposure
- •A new model: involving ordinary citizens in writing a national constitution
- •Challenge to the assumption that constitutions must be drafted by professional politicians
- 0:30 – 0:49
Publishing draft constitutions online for broad public input
A central feature that impressed Landemore was the decision to put constitutional drafts online so the wider public could comment and contribute ideas. She highlights the openness and iterative public feedback as a major departure from traditional closed-door constitutional drafting.
- •Drafts were posted online for public contribution
- •The public could “chip in” ideas and feedback
- •Online participation broadened involvement beyond the core drafters
- •Signals a more transparent, iterative drafting process
