Reconstitution
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Press Release
CHANGING JAMAICA AT THE CONSTITUTIONAL LEVEL
HARVARD LAW STUDENTS WORK WITH JAMAICAN ACTIVISTS TO AMEND JAMAICAN CONSTITUTION
On behalf of Jamaican activists Kevin Wallen and Sage, a group of second and third year Harvard Law students under the direction of Professor Charles Nesson is reviewing the moribund Jamaican constitution. This interpretation is directed at amending the Jamaican constitution. Further work includes redrafting the entire constitution to meet the needs of the Jamaican people.
The project is two-fold. First, the law students are working to develop a teaching mechanism to make the constitution more accessible to those without legal training. Currently, the students are working on a collaborative “wiki” that breaks down the purpose of each chapter within the constitution. Second, the law students are drafting possible amendments to the Jamaican constitution including a new draft of the document that would be adopted under amendment mechanism.
The laws of Jamaica exist under the Constitution of 1962. This constitution reflects the post-colonial Jamaica and maintains the monarch of the United Kingdom as the Head of State. Citing a lack of substantive popular understanding of the constitution, Harvard Law students in CyberOne were asked by Kevin Wallen and Sage to analyze and summarize the document. Following this initial analysis, the students worked with Wallen, Sage and Camella Rhone to identify sources areas of the document that diverge with Jamaican values.
Although the process of amending the constitution can be arduous, the Harvard students are developing a framework that will allow meaningful change to the Jamaican political landscape. Wallen, Sage and Rhone will be able to use the proposal to educate others within Jamaican society and to provide a substantive option to those seeking real reform.
Participants
HLS
- Jeremy Goldberg
- Mitchell Griffith
- Caroline Lents
- Calida Motley
- Joe Pileri
- Jennifer Schanes
- Caity Ross
Others
- Sage
- Camella Rhone
- Kevin Wallen
- Isaac Meister
September 22nd Meeting
10:15 a.m. in Griswold 501
Video transcript available here: Reconstitution meeting, September 22
September 29th Meeting
Pre-meeting at 10:15 am in Griswold 501
Video conference at 11:00 am
Reading assignments
Jamaican constitution: http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Constitutions/Jamaica/jam62.html
Imeister: This is how I recall the breakdown in assignments, please wiki the crap out of this if I am wrong —
- Joe: Chapters 1 and 2
- Caroline: Chapters 3 and 4
- Jennifer: Chapter 5 §{1,3}
- Caitlyn: Chapter 5 §{2,4}
- Calida: Chapters 6 and 7
- Jeremy: Chapters 8 and 9
- Mitchell: Chapter 10
Throw the text of the summaries here.
Imeister: This may be helpful —
- Summary of Jamaican constitution as provided by the Jamaican government: http://www.jis.gov.jm/special_sections/bills%20&%20acts/pdf/constit.pdf
