Constitutional Reform in Europe and Recourse to the People

Constitutionalism in Europe is in turmoil. This is not only because of the European integration project and its constitutional claims, but also due to important changes in the form and role of constitutions in European societies. Here, I want to look at one recent tendency in constitutional politics, that is an (increased?) emphasis on a recourse to popular participation in the reforming of constitutional orders. There are now quite some examples in contemporary Europe where constitutional revision and amendment is orchestrated in such a way as to include the voice of the people. I will, first, discuss the different degrees of sensibility in constitutional theory to forms of inclusion and civic participation in constitutional politics. In a second step, I will comparatively analyze a number of recent examples of citizen involvement in constitution-making. Finally, I will provide a comparative set of conclusions on the significance of participation in constitutional politics.