THIS%PAPER%IS%AN%INCOMPLETE%DRAFT
An#experiment#in#Iceland:#Crowdsourcing#a#Constitution?
Jón#Ólafsson#([email protected])#
In#this#paper#I#discuss#the#efforts#of#the#Icelandic#Constitutional#Council#(CC)#to#create#a#new#
constitution#for#the#Republic#of#Iceland.#I#will#describe#the#general#background#and#
framework#created#for#the#project#and#question#its#theoretical#basis.#I#argue#that#the#main#
weakness#is#a#lack#of#a#methodological#approach#and#a#tendency#to#either#push#deliberation#
aside#or#claim#that#non?deliberative#ways#of#preference#ranking#should#determine#central#
aspects#of#deliberation.#I#will#also#discuss#the#decision#process,#the#choice#of#central#issues,#
how#the#council#structured#its#deliberations#and#and#adoption#of#proposals.#The#ways#input#
from#the#general#public#was#received#and#handled#will#be#considered#as#well#as#relations#
between#the#council#and#both#the#parliament#and#the#main#political#parties.#
One#central#question#is#whether#the#Constitutional#council#has#been#able#to#create#a#
constitutional#project#which#can#be#seen#as#an#improvement#on#the#work#done#by#
parliamentary#committees#in#the#past.#While#the#adoption#of#certain#radical#principles,#such#as#
on#the#national#ownership#of#natural#resources,#is#easier#in#a#body#that#is#not#controlled#by#the#
political#elites,#it#also#simply#reElects#popular#demands#that#have#been#strongly#made#after#the#
Einancial#crisis#led#to#an#economic#collapse#in#Iceland.#Individuals#chosen#to#realize#the#
demands#of#the#people#in#the#wake#of#serious#upheaval#may#be#under#more#pressure#to#
demonstrate#their#support#of#such#demands#than#to#design#their#actions#so#as#to#increase#the#
likelihood#that#such#demands#will#be#met.#It#is,#in#other#words,#incorrect#to#evaluate#the#
success#of#the#council#by#looking#at#the#content#of#the#draft#constitution#(DC)#it#produced.#The#
political#context#is#more#important#in#many#ways,#and#the#success#or#failure#of#the#council#to#
establish#itself#as#a#part#of#that#context.
I#argue#that#the#effort#seems#at#this#point#doomed#to#failure#since#it#is#unlikely#that#the#draft#
constitution#will#actually#replace#the#current#constitution.#I#maintain#that#there#are#Eive#main#
reasons#for#this#failure:#
i) #The#Constitutional#Council#lacked#a#clear#methodology#for#discussing#and#
establishing#the#main#principles#according#to#which#changes#to#the#constitution#were#
to#be#justiEied.#A#radical#spirit#prevailed#leading#to#a#complete#overhaul#of#the#old#
constitution,#a#task#too#big#and#complicated#to#achieve#during#the#period#of#three#
months#the#CC#was#given.#
ii)#Council#members#emphasized#their#detachment#from#political#elites#and#resolved#to#
write#the#constitution#without#being#inEluenced#by#considerations#about#how#the#
draft#would#be#received.#The#council#emphasized#consensus,#on#the#assumption,#
expressed#by#some#of#the#more#prominent#members,#that#consensus#in#the#Council#
would#make#it#difEicult#for#the#parliament#to#dismiss#it.#It#seems#however#that#such#
consensus#has#limited#signiEicance#since#a#large#number#of#MP’s#feel#alienated#from#
the#draft#and#are#doubtful#about#some#of#the#important#novelties#introduced.#A#lack#
of#enthusiasm#among#the#political#elite#severely#reduces#the#chances#of#success,#since#
a#new#constitution#needs#to#be#approved#twice#in#the#parliament.#
iii)#While#the#CC#exploited#social#networking#to#initiate#public#discussion#about#the#
work#of#the#council#and#used#a#website#as#well#as#a#facebook#site#skillfully#to#increase#
and#facilitate#public#discussion#it#did#not#manage#to#engage#the#public#in#a#way#that#
went#beyond#receiving#proposals#and#suggestions.#For#this#reason#it#is#not#entirely#
correct#to#think#of#crowdsourcing#as#a#determining#factor#in#the#work#of#the#council.
iv)#The#council#received#input#from#an#expert#panel#on#the#one#hand#(the#constitutional#
committee)#and#from#the#so?called#national#forum#–#a#one#day#conference#of#
randomly#chosen#citizens#–#on#the#other.#It#made#only#a#limited#use#of#the#proposals#
prepared#by#the#expert#committe.#The#national#forum,#was#designed#as#a#method#to#
articulate#certain#basic#values.#It#was#not#a#platform#for#deliberation#or#discussion.#
THIS%PAPER%IS%AN%INCOMPLETE%DRAFT
Yet#the#results#of#the#national#forum#were#accepted#as#binding#for#the#CC,#rather#than#
as#a#source#for#deliberation.#The#result#is#a#document#with#a#very#uncertain#status.
v)#One#of#the#biggest#political#parties#has#been#against#the#effort#from#the#very#start.#
The#opinion#is#widespread#within#the#party#that#the#CC#cannot#be#seen#as#a#
democratically#legitimate#body.
One#may#easily#argue,#however,#that#even#if#the#new#constitution#will#never#replace#the#old#
one,#the#whole#exercise#has#been#useful#for#the#development#of#democracy#in#Iceland.#It#
showed#at#least#that#a#group#of#very#different#individuals#can#come#together#and#accomplish#a#
complicated#and#politically#difEicult#task.#Indeed#the#developments#after#the#CC#unanimously#
adopted#the#Einal#draft#of#the#constitution#suggest#that#a#core#group#of#council#members#might#
form#a#new#political#alliance#to#oppose#dated#and#corrupt#practices#of#the#“old#regime”.#So#
there#might#be#some#unexpected#success#in#the#wake#of#failure.
I#The#background
During#the#summer#of#2011#the#constitutional#council#wrote#a#new#constitution#for#Iceland.#
The#project#of#rewriting#the#constitution#has#a#history#dating#back#to#the#founding#of#the#
Icelandic#republic#in#1944,#as#it#was#a#commonly#shared#view#by#all#political#parties#that#the#
republican#constitution,#adapted#from#the#1921#constitution#of#the#Kingdom#of#Iceland#which#
again#was#adapted#from#the#original#1874#constitution#of#Iceland#as#a#territory#within#the#
Danish#kingdom,#was#only#temporary.#But#in#spite#of#efforts#to#write#a#new#constitution,#the#
political#support#has#never#been#sufEicient#for#such#a#project.#Several#constitutional#
committees#have#dealt#with#the#issue#and#one#complete#draft#of#a#constitution#exists.
Ideas#about#a#special#constutional#assembly#elected#for#the#sole#purpose#of#writing#a#new#
consititution#have#been#discussed#in#the#parliament#on#several#occasions#since#in#the#1990's#
but#just#as#with#the#constitution#itself,#the#political#support#of#such#an#undertaking#has#always#
been#lacking.#This#changed#dramatically#after#the#economic#collapse#in#2008.#Leftist#parties#
came#to#power#and#a#longstanding#proponent#of#electing#a#constitutional#assembly#became#
prime?minister.#The#parliament#decided#in#2009#that#a#constitutional#assembly#with#25#
members#should#be#elected.#Elections#were#held#in#2010#with#510#individuals#running#for#the#
25#seats#in#the#assembly.#A#SVT#system#was#used.#However#due#to#irregularities#in#how#the#
elections#were#conducted,#the#Supreme#court#later#ruled#them#illegal#and#annulled#the#results.#
The#parliament#then#appointed#a#Constitutional#council#with#those#25#individuals#who#had#
previously#been#elected.#These#hurdles#somewhat#undermined#the#legitimacy#of#the#project#in#
the#public#view.#24#of#the#25#elected#assembly#members#however#accepted#their#appointment.#
In#public#debates#about#the#wisdom#of#electing#a#constitutional#assembly,#those#opposing#it#
typically#expressed#doubts#about#the#competence#of#an#elected#body#of#this#kind#to#create#a#
viable#constitution#whereas#the#supporters#of#the#exercise#emphasized#a#representational#
principle.#In#the#preparations#for#the#constitutional#assembly/council#this#principle#was#
further#strengthened#by#randomly#selecting#1000#individuals#who#met#for#one#day#to#rank#
core#values#and#to#create#guiding#principles#for#the#constitutional#assembly/council.#A#
constitutional#committee#with#specialists#in#constitutional#law#also#did#preparatory#work#for#
the#council#with#some#general#recommendations#about#the#form#and#structure#of#the#new#
constitution.#The#council#was#encouraged#to#use#all#available#means,#including#social#media,#to#
elicit#participation#by#the#general#public.#Members#of#the#Constitutional#council#used#social#
media#for#open#discussion#about#options#on#the#table,#and#in#an#informal#way#made#use#of#
proposals#and#suggestions#received#through#such#channels.#The#emphasis#on#public#
participation#may#have#been#created#partly#by#the#perception#that#although#the#council#was#
representative#in#terms#of#gender,#it#failed#to#be#representative#in#other#aspects,#such#as#e.g.#
urban/rural#division#(only#3#members#out#of#25#came#from#outside#the#greater#Reykjavík#
area)#etc.
Yet#the#Constitutional#Assembly#which#then#became#a#Constitutional#Council#clearly#signiEied#
willingness#on#behalf#of#the#governing#political#parties#to#accomplish#democratic#renewal#in#a#
2
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country#where#an#economic#catastrophe#had#Eirst#traumatized#and#then#radicalized#a#vocal#
part#of#the#population.#Many#had#argued#after#the#collapse#that#a#new#political#beginning#was#
needed#“renewal#of#the#social#contract”#or#even#a#“new#republic”#(French#style).#The#law#on#
the#Constitutional#Assembly,#the#election#of#its#members#and#the#open#mandate#it#had#to#
change#or#rewrite#the#constitution#met#the#general#public#demand#for#renewal,#and#was##
(predictably)#met#with#hostility#by#those#who#had#led#the#country#before#the#economic#
collapse.#In#that#sense#the#Constitutional#assembly#fulEilled#on#the#one#hand#the#
“revolutionary”#demand#for#renewal#and#on#the#other#the#demand#for#a#real,#extensive#
revision#of#the#1944#constitution.
In#spite#of#several#amendments#and#one#serious#attempt#to#write#a#new#constitution,#the#
needed#overhaul#never#was#accomplished.#A#much#debated#issue#was#e.g.#the#authority#of#the#
president#who#in#accordance#with#the#26.#article#could#effectively#decide#on#whether#a#
legislation#would#have#to#be#put#to#a#national#referendum.
In#2004#the#president#decided#to#use#his#power#by#denying#to#sign#a#legislation#about#media#
ownership.#He#argued#that#his#decision#was#not#in#any#way#motivated#because#of#his#personal#
opinions#about#the#legislation,#but#because#he#saw#clear#signs#that#the#parliament#was#not#
acting#in#accordance#with#the#people’s#will#and#that#the#media?law#had#not#been#properly#
discussed#by#the#parliament#itself.#
This#was#nevertheless#a#strange#decision#and#somewhat#unexpected.#The#president,#Ólafur#
Ragnar#Grímsson#had#already#served#for#almost#9#years,#and#during#that#time#the#possibility#of#
a#presidential#veto#had#not#been#discussed#much,#or#the#possible#legitimate#reasons#for#
exercising#it.#According#to#the#constitution,#if#the#president#does#not#sign#a#law,#it#Eirst#takes#
effect,#but#within#two#months#must#be#passed#in#a#national#referendum.#The#constitution#does#
not#specify#reasons#or#circumstances#that#justify#a#presidential#veto.#It#is#entirely#up#to#the#
president#to#decide,#and#one#may#argue#that#before#this#Eirst#occurence#of#such#a#veto,#the#
common#understanding#had#been#that#this#might#happen#simply#because#the#president#is#a#
free#agnet#and#therefore#may#for#whatever#reasons#simply#not#sign#a#legislation.#A#
traightforward#reading#of#the#relevant#paragraphs#would#suggest#that#their#purpose#is#simply#
to#create#a#mechanism#because#there#exists#this#logical#possibility.
Former#presidents#had#on#a#few#occasions#discussed#the#possibility#of#refusing#to#sign#
legislation#and#generally#they#seem#to#have#connected#it#to#matters#of#conscience,#rather#than#
to#conceding#to#public#demands.#Thus#for#instance#Vigdís#Finnbogadóttir,#president#until#Mr.#
Grímsson#was#elected,#once#used#the#example#of#the#death#penalty#to#explain#circumstances#
under#which#she#might#refuse#to#sign,#emphasizing#that#the#president#might#have#an#
important#moral#role#to#play#in#case#of#social#decelopments#towards#extremism#(proposing#
that#the#death#penalty#should#be#adopted#in#Iceland#would#surely#be#considered#extremism).#
In#accordance#with#this#common#understanding#the#26th#article#of#the#constitution#was#
referred#to#as#the#instrument#for#the#president#to#act#as#a#“safety#valve”#in#a#democratic#order#
that#contains#no#formal#means#to#curtail#extremism.
Mr.#Grímsson#however#referred#neither#to#his#conscience#nor#to#any#moral#dilemma#when#
justifying#his#decision,#which#he#did#in#a#carefully#scripted#public#event#at#the#presidential#
residence#Bessastaðir,#thereby#symbolically#entering#the#political#arena.#Instead#he#referred#to#
the#thousands#who#had#signed#a#petition#urging#him#not#to#sign#and#maintained#(much#to#the#
disagreement#of#the#government#and#in#fact#most#parliamentarians),#that#a#“gap”#between#
people#and#parliament#was#apparent#and#that#the#parliament#should#listen#better#to#the#voice#
of#the#people.#Therefore#he#felt#compelled#and#fully#justiEied#in#sending#the#law#to#the#nation#
for#approval#or#rejection,#rather#than#endorsing#the#parliament’s#decision.
The#legislation#in#question#was#not#trivial,#but#not#vital#for#any#functions#either.#It#presented#
an#attempt#to#regulate#the#ownership#of#news#media#in#Iceland,#whihc#was#a#welcome#effort#
but#serious#criticism#had#been#made#of#the#law#and#especially#of#its#creation.#Many#felt#that#it#
was#designed#rather#to#make#life#difEicult#for#one#particular#mediaowner#rather#than#as#a#
3
THIS%PAPER%IS%AN%INCOMPLETE%DRAFT
general#legislation#and#that#it#had#been#passed#without#necessary#cooperation#with#the#
opposition.
Instead#of#facing#defeat#in#a#referendum#however,#the#government#withdrew#the#legislation.#
The#effect#of#the#president’s#refusal#was#profound.#While#until#2004#the#constitution#as#such#
had#not#been#controversial#(even#though#it#had#been#considered#to#be#temporary),#it#was#now#
hotly#debated.#The#general#opinion#was#that#yes#it#must#be#changed,#but#it#was#not#clear#
exactly#how.#The#president’s#supporters#who#until#his#decision#might#have#been#among#those#
who#thought#the#constitution#should#be#rewritten,#might#now#be#the#ones#to#defend#at#least#
the#presidential#veto#rights.#His#opponents,#who#came#mainly#from#the#political#right,#and#had#
mostly#defended#constitutional#status#quo,#would#now#call#for#making#sure#that#such#a#scandal#
would#not#happen#again#by#either#abolishing#the#presidency,#or#somehow#carve#the#
president’s#role#down#to#being#nothing#more#than#a#seremonial#Eigure.
The$role$of$the$president
Since#the#president’s#decision#in#2004#spurred#the#discussion#about#the#need#to#change#the#
constitution#and#even#to#rewrite#it,#that#also#became#a#major#issue#in#the#months#after#the#
Einancial#crisis#struck#Iceland.#Since#the#president#was#considered#to#have#been#embarrasingly#
close#to#the#now#detested#directors#of#the#three#privatized#Icelandic#banks#that#went#bankrupt#
in#the#fall#of#2008,#the#public#wrath#was#to#a#large#extent#directed#at#him#personally#as#well#as#
at#the#ofEice#of#the#president#in#general.
But#the#question#of#the#president#was#bound#to#be#double#sided.#On#the#one#hand,#in#times#of#
crisis#it#is#easy#to#see#the#usefulness#of#having#a#head#of#state#without#close#connection#to#
politics,#as#someone#able#to#represent#the#country#in#a#manner#that#enjoys#a#much#wider#
support#than#any#politician#would#enjoy.#The#honorary#head#of#state#is#not#necessarily#
apolitical#according#to#that#view,#but#in#a#way#transpolitical,#representing#a#political#principle#
that#could#be#national#in#essence,#or#even#moral.#The#logical#result#of#such#a#view#however#is#
the#security?valve#idea#of#the#president,#where#he#or#she#might#actually#have#a#causal#effect#to#
redirect#a#polity#gone#wrong.#It#is#a#highly#idealized#view,#which#requires#that#the#individual#
elected#for#this#ofEice#is#above#criticism,#a#successful#and#uncontroversial#scholar,#let’s#say,#an#
artist,#perhaps#a#novelist#enjoying#both#popularity#and#respect.#Two#of#Iceland’s#former#
presidents#have#been#Eigures#like#that.#First#Kristján#Eldjárn,#a#specialist#in#medieval#
archeology#who#for#many#years#directed#Iceland’s#museum#of#national#history#before#running#
for#president#in#1968.#He#defeated#his#opponent,#a#leading#former#politician,#with#a#landslide.#
The#second#president#who#could#claim#such#a#status#was#Vigdís#Finnbogadóttir,#a#former#
Theatre#director#and#a#cultural#activist#who#succeded#Kristján#Eldjárn.
But#the#upheavals#of#2009#changed#the#picture#somewhat.#Ólafur#Ragnar#Grímsson,#before#the#
Einancial#crisis,#led#the#fan#club#of#the#Icelandic#banks#who#were#equated#with#the#medieval#
vikings#and#considered#to#have#won#great#victories#in#the#several#countries#of#Northern#
Europe,#effectively#changing#the#banking#industry,#introducing#new#kinds#of#management#and#
leadership.#At#that#time#Mr.#Grímsson#was#considered#an#important#ally#of#Icelandic#business#
because#of#his#wide#international#network,#which#he#did#not#hesitate#to#use#to#beneEit#
Icelandic#Einance#and#business#leaders.#Since#he#was#seen#as#the#presdent#of#“expansion”#his#
situation#after#the#collapse#was#about#as#hopeless#as#that#of#the#bankers.#Since#the#only#way#to#
express#real#effective#criticism#of#the#president#was#by#arguing#for#a#constitutional#change#that#
would#severely#restrict#his#Eield#of#action#or#even#abolish#the#presidency,#criticism#of#the#
president#appeared#in#the#guise#of#a#criticism#of#the#constitution.
"Our$own"$constitution
The#constitution#as#described#above#was,#as#is#the#case#with#many#constitutions,#a#result#of#a#
development#where#one#constitution#grew#out#of#another,#and#where#political#progress#was#
captured#in#renewed#constitutional#order.#The#1874#constitution#was#a#patchwork#bringing#
together#the#liberal#tendencies#of#the#19th#Century#and#special#rights#granted#to#Iceland#as#a#
4
THIS%PAPER%IS%AN%INCOMPLETE%DRAFT
territory#within#the#Danish#state.#Since#this#constitution#is#the#predecessor#to#later#
constitutions,#the#argument#was#always#quite#easy#to#make#that#the#Icelandic#constitution#
wasn’t#really#an#Icelandic#constutution,#but#some#sort#of#a#Danish?Icelandic#hybrid,#beEitting#a#
kingdom#but#not#really#suitable#for#a#republic,#simply#replacing#“king”#with#“president”.#It#was#
furthermore#a#generally#accepted#view#that#it#was#important#to#get#rid#of#many#19th#century#
archaisms#to#create#a#document#that#was#clearer,#more#modern#and#streamlined#than#the#old#
“Danish”,#“19th#century”#constitution.#According#to#this#view#the#clariEications#were#necessary,#
since#it#was#almost#impossible#for#anyone#to#understand#what#the#constitution#said,#unless#
one#knew#what#it#said#before#reading#it.#A#child#should#be#able#to#understand#what#the#
constitution#says,#was#a#frequently#made#claim.#A#child,#however,#on#reading#the#current#
constitution#would#draw#many#false#conclusions.#He#or#she#would#e.g.#assume#that#the#role#
and#power#of#the#president#was#much#greater#than#it#actually#is#and#so#on.#So#here#is#a#second#
general#reason:#The#constitution#needed#clariEication,#needed#to#be#made#simpler#and#more#to#
the#point#on#the#key#issues.
Debates#on#changing#the#constitution#also#had#to#do#with#a#fair#system#of#government.#In#1995#
the#chapter#dealing#with#rights#had#been#rewritten#to#reElect#developments#and#new#
vocabularies#in#the#discussion#of#individual#rights,#civil#liberties#and#human#rights.#In#Iceland#
however#the#main#issue#in#the#discussion#of#fairness#was#the#electoral#law.#The#current#system#
ascribes#more#weight#to#votes#cast#in#parliamentary#elections#in#rural#areas,#since#the#number#
of#MP’s#that#some#districts#send#to#parliament#is#greater#proportionally#than#MP’s#from#urban#
areas.#Such#and#numerous#other#anomalies#have#caused#much#outrage#in#Iceland#over#the#
years#and#were#certainly#considered#reason#enough#to#demand#constitutional#change.
[Crisis#and#a#Constitution
Given#this#background,#it#can#be#seen#how#easily#the#public#outrage,#which#after#the#economic#
collapse#was#directed#at#the#government,#converged#on#the#issue#of#writing#a#new#
constitution.#It#can#be#argued#that#without#such#background,#the#constitution#might#not#have#
become#such#a#central#issue.#But#since#there#was#since#from#the#beginning#of#the#republic#the#
idea#of#an#unEinished#business,#aggravated#by#controversial#actions#by#the#president,#the#
constitution,#or#for#some,#the#“social#contract”#was#the#natural#point#of#departure.
One#year#after#the#collapse#a#group#of#individuals#established#an#informal#organization#called#
“the#anthill”#in#order#to#seek#ways#to#achieve#national#reconciliation#–#“renew#the#social#
contract”.#The#anthill#organized#a#large#public#event,#a#kind#of#a#citizens’#assembly,#a#so?called#
“national#forum”.#The#national#forum,#in#order#to#help#renew#the#social#contract#would#
randomly#select#individuals#from#the#national#register.#These#individuals#would#then#be#
invited#to#participate#in#a#policy#exercise#where#the#task#would#be#to#articulate#values#and#
express#priorities#that#could#guide#the#renewal#of#government#and#public#administration.#
The#results#of#the#National#forum#were#made#public#and#widely#discussed.#The#method#of#
eliciting#them#was#quite#interesting#because#it#did#not#involve#discussion#or#deliberation.#A#
system#of#brainstorming#and#repeated#voting#was#used#to#produce#sentences#and#value#
rankings#that#were#then#presented#as#expressing#the#public#will.#Since#the#national#forum#had#
the#necessary#number#of#participants#to#be#considered#a#representative#sample#of#the#
Icelandic#nation,#the#organizers#argued#that#its#results#should#be#taken#very#seriously.#
Further:#
•The#second#national#forum#organized#by#the#government#to#prepare#for#the#Constitutional#
Assembly.
•The#elections#for#the#CA
•The#election#campaign,#and#campaign#platforms
•Discussion#of#necessary#constitutional#changes#before#the#elections
•The#election#results
•Reaction#of#the#Conservative/Liberal#Independence#Party
5
THIS%PAPER%IS%AN%INCOMPLETE%DRAFT
•Annulment#through#the#Supreme#Court
•Appointment#of#the#Constitutional#Council
•The#"We#the#people"#argument
•What#is#the#connection#between#the#CC#and#voters?
•Politically#motivated#attempts#to#undermine#the#authority#and#importance#of#the#CC
•Unanswered#questions#about#the#relationship#between#the#CC#and#the#Parliament.#
•Can#the#CC#simply#ignore#the#parliament,#or#in#other#words,#act#as#if#the#parliament's#access#
should#be#exactly#the#same#as#the#access#of#any#other#institution/group#of#individuals?]
Characteristics#of#the#Constitutional#Council:#The#politics#of#the#nonFpolitical
Some#members#of#the#CC#expressed#openly#their#hostility#to#the#“political#elites”#claiming#that#
it#was#vitally#important#for#the#success#of#its#work#to#avoid#the#inEluence#of#the#parliament#or#
of#individual#political#parties.#The#CC#should#according#to#these#members#see#itself#as#
representing#the#common#man#against#or#at#least#as#distinct#from,#the#privileged#elites#
dominating#political#and#administrative#structures.
It#seems#that#consensus#was#quickly#reached#about#not#initiating#any#contact#with#the#
parliament,#making#it#clear#to#parliamentarians#that#they#would#have#to#approach#the#CC#in#
exactly#the#same#way#as#other#citizens,#as#individuals.#Therefore#the#question#never#came#up#
whether#it#would#at#some#point#be#wise#to#work#with#the#parliament#or#individual#political#
parties#at#preparing#the#ground#for#the#reception#of#the#DC.#The#CC#in#fact#did#not#consider#it#
within#its#mandate#to#try#to#win#approval#for#any#of#its#proposals#from#any#of#the#political#
parties.
One#might#ask#whether#that#should#not#be#perfectly#obvious,#given#that#the#CC#was#an#extra?
political#structure#created#to#assume#a#task#that#the#political#elite#had#clearly#failed#to#
complete.#The#reason#that#this#might#have#been#an#option,#is#the#precarious#political#situation#
surrounding#the#council.#The#main#opposition#party#and#traditionally#the#biggest#political#
party#in#Iceland#is#the#Conservative/Liberal#Independence#party.#It#had#opposed#the#CA#from#
the#start,#voted#against#the#law#on#the#elections#to#the#CA#and#its#members#had#individually#
and#as#a#whole#been#very#critical#of#the#whole#exercise.#After#the#annulment#of#the#CA#
elections#through#the#Supreme#Court#the#IP#opposed#appointing#a#CC#arguing#that#
constitutional#revisions#should#simply#be#put#on#hold#for#a#while.#The#political#parties#should#
rather#work#on#Einding#a#common#ground#–#what#revisions#of#the#constitution#could#gain#a#
general#support#in#the#parliament#and#work#from#there.#Once#the#CC#was#in#action#the#IP#
ignored#it.#It#would#not#have#been#unthinkable#that#the#CC#leadership,#once#it#had#been#
elected,#made#effort#to#work#with#political#parties#on#creating#a#common#understanding#of#
how#they#should#treat#the#DC#once#it#was#ready,#rather#than#simply#do#the#job#and#then#submit#
it#to#the#parliament.
According#to#one#CC#member,#when#the#DC#was#submitted#to#the#Speaker#of#the#Parliament#as#
the#law#required,#the#ceremony#was#short#and#in#many#ways#embarrassing#since#no#one#knew#
exactly#what#was#supposed#to#happen#next.#The#CC#had#clearly#alienated#itself#from#the#
parliament#due#to#an#anti?establishment#rhetoric.#But#that#rhetoric#seemed#to#work#against#
itself#in#this#particular#context,#since#support#in#the#parliament#was#after#all#vital#for#the#
success#of#the#document.
The$members$were$outspoken$about$the$solidarity$within$the$CC$yet$various$kinds$of$strategic$
maneuvers$developed$quickly.
The#25#members#of#the#CC#liked#to#present#themselves#as#standing#outside#politics.#Yet#some#
of#them#had#been#politically#active#previously,#three#had#even#been#MP’s.#In#the#election#
campaign#most#of#them#had#published#their#platforms,#presented#certain#views#of#what#
needed#to#be#changed#in#constitutional#as#in#other#political#matters#and#declared#themselves#
to#be#ready#to#Eight#to#achieve#the#their#main#objectives.#Thus#the#CC#members#had#already#
estabished#themselves#as#politicians#in#the#election#campaign,#even#though#they#also#
6
THIS%PAPER%IS%AN%INCOMPLETE%DRAFT
distanced#themselves#from#politics.#There#were#some,#of#course,#who#instead#of#running#on#a#
platform#of#some#kind#simply#declared#themselves#to#be#interested#in#participating#in#revising#
the#constitution#without#running#on#a#platform#of#some#sort#but#these#were#in#the#minority.#
Therefore#one#could#say#that#the#whole#structure#of#electing#representatives#to#the#CA#was#
bound#to#change#them#to#politicians,#in#some#respect#at#least.#Even#those#who#had#no#previous#
experience#of#campaigning#and#made#only#a#minimal#effort,#would#nevertheless#have#made#
the#Eirst#moves#towards#becoming#politicians#before#entering#the#CA.
Some#CC#members#argued#however#that#the#nature#of#the#assembly#was#quite#different#from#
any#ordinary#political#assembly#such#as#a#municipal#council#or#any#parliament#because#while#
campaigning#to#be#elected#most#of#the#members#had#emphasized#not#their#own#personal#
platforms#but#rather#their#willingness#to#work#with#others.#This#was#true#to#some#extent.#
During#the#election#campaign#many#candidates#had#held#common#election#meetings#and#even#
people#whose#priorities#were#different#would#work#together#arguing#that#the#main#thing#was#
solidarity.#The#emphasis#on#solidarity#remained#a#priority#after#the#CC#came#together#and#
throughout#its#period.#Most#member#thought#that#unity#would#under#any#circumstances#be#a#
major#strength#of#the#Council,#making#it#all#the#more#difEicult#for#opposed#political#forces,#the#
parliament#or#the#government#to#dismiss#or#belittle#its#results.#When#the#Einal#version#of#the#
DC#was#passed,#it#was#approved#unanimously,#after#a#successful#last#moment#effort#to#create#a#
document#where#contentious#issues#had#been#removed.
In#spite#of#such#ostensive#solidarity#deep#divisions#remained#within#the#CC.#What#is#also#
interesting#is#that#the#members#did#in#many#cases#not#think#of#solidarity#excluding#strategic#
voting#or#deal?making.##In#the#sub?committees#e.g.,#which#were#supposed#to#bring#preliminary#
conclusions#to#the#general#council#meetings#issues#were#often#discussed#and#resolved,#ending#
in#a#unanimous#support#for#one#or#other#result.#Yet#the#members#would#not#necessarily#stick#
to#their#decisions#in#the#sub?committees#once#the#discussion#resumed#in#the#plenary#sessions.#
According#to#one#council#members#the#reasons#for#such#a#change#were#often#strategic.#
Committee#members#would#realize#that#they#had#a#better#chance#in#a#plenary#session#to#get#
something#approved#and#therefore#choose#to#abandon#the#issue#in#the#sub?committee,#
knowing#that#they#would#have#a#chance#to#go#through#a#new#discussion#of#it#later.#But#that#
basically#undermined#the#deliberations#meant#to#take#place#in#the#subcommittees.#Instead#of#
being#the#deliberative#laboratories#they#were#meant#to#be,#preparing#well#thought#out#
proposals#to#the#plenary#meetings,#the#discussion#there#would#in#some#cases#be#like#Eirst#
attempts#to#come#to#a#conclusion#and#a#chance#to#realize#what#kind#of#views#were#likely#to#
emerge#in#the#discussion#of#a#particular#issue.#While#this#was#not#always#the#case,#it#often#was,#
and#in#at#least#one#of#the#sub?committees#it#did#serious#damage#to#the#trust#between#
individual#council?members.#
Convergence$toward$the$model$provided$by$the$Althing,$whether$the$CC$members$liked$to$or$not.
Even#though#there#were#no#parties,#some#members#were#characterized#as#having#a#visible#
party/ideological#afEiliation.#One#could#describe#the#views#of#the#council#members#from#two#
different#perspectives#On#the#one#hand#there#were#those#who#connected#the#work#of#the#
council#to#the#Einancial#crisis#in#a#signiEicant#way,#and#saw#it#as#one#of#the#results#of#the#crisis.#
But#ths#group#was#split.#There#were#those#who#identiEied#with#the#“revolutionaries”#i.e.#those#
who#saw#the#crisis#as#a#sign#of#serious#moral#and#political#failure#of#the#Icelandic#state#and#
therefore#thought#of#the#consitution#as#an#opportunity#to#correct#some#injustices#of#the#past.#
This#would#be#done#indirectly#by#making#sure#the#constitution#had#provisions#that#would#help#
prevent#developments#such#as#those#that#contributed#to#the#unhealthy#pre?crisis#climate#in#
Iceland.#But#another#group#did#not#share#this#view#of#the#constitution.#They#thought#of#the#
crisis#as#being#caused#by#external#factors,#such#as#the#global#Einancial#crisis#or#by#certain#
events#and#decisions#concerning#foreign#organizations#and#institutions,#which#had#per#se#
nothing#in#particular#to#do#with#Iceland,#i.e.#who#saw#Iceland#as#a#victim#of#circumstances#
rather#than#as#directly#responsible.#These#people#were#opposed#to#designing#a#constitution#so#
7
THIS%PAPER%IS%AN%INCOMPLETE%DRAFT
as#to#respond#to#these#social#and#political#Elaws#since#in#their#eyes#it#amounted#to#correcting#a#
failure#where#there#was#none.#
On#the#other#hand#there#were#radicals#and#moderates,#i.e.#those#who#wanted#to#see#the#
constitution#changed#in#radical#way#–#basically#rewritten#and#those#who#had#doubts#about#
radical#change.#Many#of#those#who#identiEied#with#the#“revolution”#of#2009,#would#
nevertheless#not#go#very#far#in#supporting#radical#changes#to#the#constitution.#The#reasons#
behind#that#view#were#of#various#kinds,#ranging#from#caution#to#conservatism.
Original/edifying$discussion$at$the$beginning$of$the$CC$tended$towards$mapping$existing$views$
rather$than$identifying$priorities.
“Respect”#for#the#views#represented#in#the#council#had#a#strong#effect#on#how#“the#task”#was#
approached#when#the#CC#Einally#met.#It#certainly#did#prevent#fully#open#deliberation:#The#
members#tended#to#think#of#the#council#as#representing#opinions#that#should#be#
accommodated#rather#than#as#a#forum#of#open,#undetermined#deliberation.#This#was#in#some#
ways#a#natural#consequence#of#the#fact#that#the#council#had#originally#been#elected.#Most#of#
the#members#had#expressed#strong#views#about#how#they#wanted#the#constitution#to#change#
or#not#change#or#what#kind#of#constitution#they#wanted.#They,#or#at#least#some#of#them,#
considered#themselves#to#have#been#elected#by#supporters#to#whom#they#were#responsible#
(even#if#not#fully/directly#representing#them).
During#public#meetings#and#discussions#in#2008?2009#a#cluster#of#demands#had#been#formed,#
uniting#those#protesters#who#demanded#a#radical#break#with#the#past.#The#radical#part#of#the#
CC#tended#to#be#supportive#of#those#demands,#strongly#identifying#with#some#of#them.#One#
issue#that#received#very#strong#public#support#was#the#demand#that#the#constitution#stipulate#
that#natural#resources#must#be#“national#property”.#While#the#concept#of#national#property#is#
spurious(at#least#in#Icelandic#law),#attempts#by#some#of#the#Icelandic#bankers#to#move#into#the#
energy#business#and#the#involvement#of#foreign#companies#to#gain#longterm#acces#to#hot#
water#resources,#and#even#to#appropriate#them,#had#led#to#lively#discussion#on#the#possible#
ownership#of#natural#resources#and#to#very#strong#opinions#about#it.#Since#hydro?#and#thermal#
energy#were#widely#seen#as#an#important#future#source#of#income#for#the#country#as#a#whole,#
it#was#easy#to#argue,#in#the#aftermath#of#the#crisis,#that#Icelanders#had#just#barely#escaped#
losing#some#of#their#natural#resources#to#greedy#capitalists#in#Iceland#working#with#
international#corporations.
A#second#demand#was#that#the#country#would#not#be#divided#up#into#many#electoral#districts.#
This#is#supposedly#unnecessary#because#of#the#tiny#population.#Furthermore#it#has#been#a#
source#of#some#democratic#discrimination#in#the#past#since#the#number#of#MP’s#representing#
sparsely#populated#rural#areas#is#much#larger#proportionally#than#those#representing#the#
densely#populated#south?western#corner#of#Iceland.#This#has#through#the#years#spurred#a#lot#
of#discussion,#but#it#was#clear#in#the#electoral#campaign#that#a#large#majority#wanted#a#single#
district#solution,#and#more#than#80%#thought#that#any#system#should#secure#the#equal#weight#
of#votes,#i.e.#that#the#same#number#of#votes#would#be#needed#to#be#elected#to#the#parliament#
independently#of#electoral#district.#The#CC#reElected#these#proportions,#with#(to#begin#with)#
only#2#of#the#members#declaring#opposition#to#a#one#person#one#vote#principle.
A#third#demand,#or#a#series#of#demands,#had#to#do#with#corruption.#Since#the#Einancial#crisis#
had#energized#debates#about#government#corruption,#for#some#members#of#the#CC,#the#most#
important#objective#in#writing#a#new#constitution#was#to#place#mechanism#there#that#would#
minimize#(some#would#go#as#far#as#to#say#eliminate)#the#danger#of#corrupt#practices#in#public#
administration.#Before#the#crisis#Iceland#had#for#many#years#received#a#very#favorable#rating#
on#corruption#indices#published#by#international#organizations.#Once#or#twice#after#2000#it#
had#even#been#on#top#of#such#lists#as#the#least#corrupt#country#in#the#world.#While#for#any#
Icelander#it#was#always#clear#that#such#assessments#fail#to#detect#certain#characteristics#of#
very#small#societies,#which#might#very#well#(and#perhaps#should)#be#seen#as#corrupt,#there#
was#also#a#growing#feeling#in#the#country#that#there#was#something#unusually#straightforward#
8
THIS%PAPER%IS%AN%INCOMPLETE%DRAFT
and#honest#in#the#way#Icelanders#did#business#with#each#other#and#the#world.#This#illusion#
was#shattered#once#the#banks#collapsed#and#as#a#consequence#of#that#the#opinion#that#
Icelandic#public#administration,#as#well#as#the#government#itself,#not#to#talk#about#the#political#
elites,#were#deeply#corrupt#and#thoroughly#incompetent,#quickly#gained#ground.
One#might#have#expected#this#to#lead#to#a#discussion#in#the#CC#about#whether#and#how#the#
constitution#could#be#designed#to#detect#and#prevent#corruption#in#government,#but#it#seems#
that#no#such#discussion#was#initiated.#Instead#many#of#the#CC#members#strongly#supported#
measures#to#limit#the#personal#power#of#government#ministers,#pulling#them#out#of#the#
parliament,#e.g.,#reducing#their#role#in#submitting#legal#bills#to#the#parliament,#and#taking#
away#their#power#to#appoint#key#ofEicials.#The#discussion#in#the#council#rather#concentrated#
on#such#concrete#proposals,#where#the#issue#was#rather#what#kind#of#a#solution#would#gain#
consensus#in#the#CC,#rather#than#a#discussion#of#principle.
Finally#issues#such#as#the#role#and#power#of#the#president,#term#limits,#increased#role#of#the#
parliament#in#overseeing#the#government,#the#creation#of#US#style#parliamentary#commissions#
to#investigate#in#cases#of#ofEicial#misconduct,#fraud#or#in#approving#appointments#etc.#were#
conspicuous#in#public#discussion#before#the#CA#elections#and#consequently#also#conspicuous#
in#the#deliberations#of#the#CC#itself.#But#it#seems#that#a#more#general#or#abstract#dicussion#was#
not#initiated,#and#that#when#the#CC#met,#the#members#would#Eind#it#more#natural#to#start#
debating#concrete#measures#rather#than#lose#time#discussing#the#basics,#Eiguring#out#what#
kind#of#consensus#or#middle#ground#could#be#reached#etc.
[A#few#further#issues#here:
•The#more#professionally/academically#minded#members#complain#that#the#discussion#is#not#
thorough#enough.
•Among#some#members#there#is#suspicion#of#professionalism#which#they#feel#is#a#political#
agenda#in#disguise
•The#sense#of#urgency:#The#CC#members#and#a#part#of#the#political#elite#tried#to#convey#a#sense#
of#urgency#to#the#public.#Yet#it#is#hard#to#detect#such#views#among#the#general#public.#
•Turnout#in#the#elections#had#been#low.#The#media#attention#the#CC#got#was#neither#intensive#
nor#comprehensive.#Doubts#were#expressed#in#the#media#in#various#contexts#and#also#by#
people#who#were#not#hostile#to#the#enterprise#itself.
•New#constitutions#in#transitional#democracies#are#connected#with#a#transition#from#illiberal#
regime#to#liberal#government.#But#this#is#not#the#case#here.#It#is#rather#the#opposite:#An#overly#
liberal#constitution#is#to#be#replaced#with#a#less#liberal#one#(sjá#Tryggva#Þór)
•Consistent#efforts#were#made#to#involve#the#general#public#and#to#keep#channels#open#for#the#
CC#to#discuss#and#review#various#kinds#of#input#from#the#public
•Facebook#sites#were#used#to#publish#ofEicial#and#unofEicial#proposals#and#comments.#In#order#
for#a#proposal#to#be#guaranteed#review#it#had#to#be#submitted#formally#through#a#certain#
electronic#channel#different#from#Facebook.]
The#problem#of#both#following#the#law#and#circumventing#it
Demand#for#"circumventory"#democracy:#Supporters#of#the#Constitutional#council#express#the#
desire#to#circumvent#ofEicial#structures,#even#legally#prescribed#procedures.#This#view#reveals#
deep#suspicion#that#the#legislative#body#will#"corrupt"#the#DC#rather#than#improve#it.
According#to#the#current#constitution,#any#changes#in#the#constitution#need#to#be#passed#by#
two#different#parliaments.#Therefore#the#parliament#is#unavoidably#part#of#creating#a#new#
constitution.
There#have#been#discussions,#behind#the#scenes#as#well#as#in#public,#about#ways#to#pass#the#
new#constitution#in#some#other#way#than#the#law#prescribes.
A#strong#public#support#seems#to#be#for#submitting#the#DC#to#a#national#referendum.#That#
would#(supposedly)#"tie"#the#hands#of#the#parliament,#making#it#difEicult#not#to#pass#it.
9
THIS%PAPER%IS%AN%INCOMPLETE%DRAFT
However,#there#is#a#clear#conElict#between#deliberative#demands#and#procedural#demands#on#
this#question.#At#the#Eirst#glance#one#might#think#that#a#national#referendum#before#the#
parliamentary#debate#is#a#good#idea#because#instead#of#circumventing#legal#structures,#which#
requires#a#coup#d'etat#(see.#Elster)#measures#are#taken#to#limit#the#options#of#
parliamentarians.#But#it#is#also#an#anti?democratic#move#since#it#ignores#the#democratic#duty#
of#elected#representatives#to#act#in#accordance#with#their#own#conscience.#Thus#one#could#also#
argue#that#a#prior#referendum#is#a#less#democratic#way#of#adopting#the#constitution#than#
deEiance#of#legal#structures#would#be,#even#if#it#amounted#to#a#coup#d’etat.
The#idea#of#ordinary#lawmaking#vs.#higher#lawmaking#does#not#work#because#all#legal#
structures#are#intact#(see#Teitel#194).#In#this#sense#one#should#arguebly#abandon#the#idea#that#
the#situation#in#Iceland#after#the#collapse#can#be#seen#as#revolutionary.#The#public#
demonstrations#that#terriEied#the#governing#parties#and#led#(at#least#partly)#to#the#dissolution#
of#the#government#were#certainly#led#by#people#who#saw#the#undoing#of#the#government#as#
the#consequence#of#an#uprising.#But#even#though#some#people#demanded#that#the#government#
be#replaced#not#by#a#different#group#of#politicians,#but#by#representatives#appointed#by#some#
ad#hoc#organization#(imitating#the#Velvet#revolution#in#Czechoslovakia)#such#demands#gained#
no#public#support#or#even#understanding.#The#legal#threshold#was#never#overstepped.#
Therefore#there#was#never#any#question#about#an#extra?legal#assembly.
[Some#other#contributing#issues:#
•Icesave:#A#complicated#question#about#principles#in#Iceland's#foreign#policy#as#well#as#about#
public#responsibility#in#the#Icelandic##Einancial#crisis:#Should#Icelanders#compensate#individual#
savers#in#other#countries#who#lost#their#money#due#to#the#collapse#of#the#Icelandic#banks?#In#
one#case#(Icesave)#the#Icelandic#state#seems#to#be#liable.#If#Icelanders#are#to#pay,#what#should#
the#terms#be?.
•A#referendum#on#Icesave:
•In#order#to#make#a#good#decision,#voters#have#to#understand#the#economics#of#the#situation.
•Icesave#as#the#question#whether#or#not#Icelanders#should#pay#debts#incurred#by#one#of#the#
the#collapsed#banks,#Landsbankinn.
•Icesave#as#the#question#of#fairness#in#Iceland's#dealings#with#other#countries#–#its#Einancial#
obligations#and#the#wisdom#of#pursuing#a#legal#battle#against#governmental#responsibility.
•Icesave#is#the#most#divisive#issue#of#the#Icelandic#post?crisis#recovery.#InEluences#ideas#about#
how#Iceland#should#deal#with#“the#big#world”.#
•Would#the#discussions#in#the#CC#contribute#to#a#common#way#to#deal#with#problems#such#as#
Icesave?#
•Discussion#tends#to#reduce#radicalism.#There#can#be#two#explanations#for#that:#on#the#one#
hand#the#inevitable#compromise#when#people#with#different#views#have#to#reach#some#
common#decisions,#on#the#other#the#results#the#deliberation#can#possibly#bring.
•Is#there#any#evidence#that#members#of#the#CC#actually#changed#their#views#on#such#issues?]
The#project#as#such
Methodologies
It#is#questionable#whether#the#CC#had#any#methodology#at#all.#The#Constitutional#Committee,#
an#expert#panel#appointed#by#the#government#had#prepared#a#document#for#the#CC#which#was#
supposed#to#lay#a#certain#foundation#for#the#work#of#the#CC.#In#this#document#there#were#
proposals#about#changes#of#individual#articles#in#the#constitution#but#in#many#cases#no#change#
was#proposed.#The#proposals#were#made#with#variants#that#expressed#different#
prioritizations,#such#that#the#CC#could#go#through#the#various#possibilities#to#pick#and#choose#
what#best#reElected#the#views#within#the#council.
The#CC#used#the#general#outline#of#the#Committee,#but#also#tried#to#distance#itself#from#it.#In#
some#cases#proposals#from#the#Committee#were#adopted,#but#in#most#cases#not#or#only#
indirectly.#The#Committee’s#approach#was#to#think#of#the#project#as#a#revision#of#the#
10
THIS%PAPER%IS%AN%INCOMPLETE%DRAFT
constitution,#rather#than#the#writing#of#a#new#constitution.#Its#proposals#therefore#follow#the#
basic#structure#of#the#current#constitution#with#suggestions#only#concerning#individual#
articles.
Instructions$made$by$the$expert$panel$before$the$CA$elections.
One#group#wanted#to#defy#the#instructions#entirely#–#this#is#the#group#of#"revolutionaries"#who#
identiEied#with#the#protesters#of#January#2009.#These#people#seem#to#have#thought#of#
themselves##as#having#representatives#of#various#anti?establisment#groups#and#therefore#
made#en#effort#to#hve#the#CC#deal#with#acertain#retributive#role#in#the#constitution?making.#
This#group#could#not#be#convinced#to#treat#the#framework#provided#by#the#constitutional#
committee#as#more#than#very#general#suggestions#and#during#the#work#of#the#Constitutional#
council#its#members#conferred#to#work#on#ideas#about#how#to#include#backward?looking#
articles#in#the#draft,#i.e.#articles#that#would#serve#to#prevent#or#at#least#minimize#the#chance#
that#certain#social,#Einancial#and#political#developments#would#be#similar#to#what#happened#
prior#to#the#2008#crisis,#and#even#create#retroactive#legislation#to#deal#with#the#perceived#
perpetrators#in#the#economic#collapse.
[Should$the$constitution$be$changed$or$rewritten?
If#the#task#was#to#write#a#new#constitution,#was#it#to#be#expected#that#it#could#be#done#within#
the#time#frame#given?
Are#we#(really)#in#a#transitional#period:#Is#it#right#to#equate#or#compare#Iceland#to#transitional#
societies?
The#crisis#requires#a#certain#reevaluation#and#revision#of#laws.#There#is#also#a#demand#for#
justice:#Former#elites#are#viliEied,#former#leaders#and#heroes#er#put#to#justice.
Arguably#not#much#has#changed#in#Iceland.#The#crisis#is#radically#overblown.#It#is#certainly#an#
uncomfortable#situation,#but#we#should#compare#it#to#crises#like#the#ones#in#Scandinavia#in#the#
nineties#rather#than#South#Africa#or#Eastern#Europe.
There#are#inEluential#groups#in#the#society#that#deny#the#transition.#Claim#that#there#is#no#
fundamental#change#that#Iceland#is#going#through.
It#is#often#argued#that#constitution?making#would#require#a#peaceful,#balanced#situation#rather#
than#the#volatile#transitory#circumstances#of#upheaval.#But#new#constitutions#are#usually#
called#for#when#the#circumstances#are#pretty#bad.#Maybe#the#situation#in#Iceland#is#simply#not#
bad#enough.#The#perceived#transition#is#no#real#transition.
A#deep#division#exists#within#the#council#between#a#forward?looking#and#a#backward?looking#
groups.#While#there#is#no#doubt#that#constitution?making#is#a#forward?looking#project#it#seems#
odd#not#to#take#into#account#what#has#happened,#how#former#injustices#can#be#avoided#etc.#
(see#Teitel#196)]
[The#pressure#to#show#radicalism#vs#the#pressure#to#get#the#most#out#of#the#effort
Lack#of#understanding/preparation#for#discussion/understanding#what#it#would#take#to#come#
up#with#something#new.
No#methodology#behind#collecting#proposals/views#from#the#larger#public.
Possibly#bad#decisions#taken#because#the#objectives#are#complicated#by#the#status#of#some#of#
the#members#as#„revolutionaries"#i.e.#they#were#people#who#in#one#way#or#another#were#
committed#to#doing#something#radical...
How#did#the#CC#“think#of#itself”.#Not#maybe#omnipotent,#although#some#members#of#the#group#
argued#that#their#proposal#must#be#taken#as#a#whole#or#rejected#as#a#whole.
The#Chorus:#Some#of#the#CC#members#put#great#emphasis#on#the#ability#of#the#Council#to#reach#
a#consensus.#Was#that#a#good#idea?
Plays#into#the#idea#that#after#the#economic#collapse,#some#kind#of#a#national/social#contract#
was#needed#to#create#an#organic#whole.]
11
THIS%PAPER%IS%AN%INCOMPLETE%DRAFT
The#Product:#Is#it#a#viable#constitution?
The#DC#is#in#many#ways#a#curious#document.#It#is#not#a#new#constitution#written#from#scratch.#
The#CC#after#all#decided#two#have#it#both#ways:#To#write#a#new#constitution#and#use#large#
chunks#of#the#old#constitution.#It#is#certainly#a#complete#overhaul#of#the#current#constitution.#
It#is#not#quite#a#“crowdsourced”#document.#While#certain#aspects#of#crowdsourcing#appear#in#
the#work#of#the#CC,#it#would#be#more#precise#to#think#of#the#use#of#the#internet#and#of#social#
networks#as#extensive#consultation#with#the#public,#creating#multiple#routes#to#reach#a#
broader#audience.#The#eventual#decisions#–#or#solutions#–#would#not#be#determined#by#“users”#
but#they#would#have#a#say,#their#proposals#taken#seriously#and#in#some#(actually#rare)#cases#
actually#adopted.
As#we#have#seen#the#“national#forum”#does#present#a#version#of#crowdsourcing,#and#since#the#
“results”#of#the#national#forum#on#the#constitution#were#presented#as#an#important#input#into#
the#work#of#the#CC,#in#that#sense#crowdsourcing#was#a#part#of#the#process#of#writing#the#
constitution.
Some#council#members,#who#had#been#believers#in#the#crowdsourcing#model#continue#
nevertheless#to#to#talk#about#consultations#and#communication#via#social#networks#as#if#such#
communication#amounted#to#crowdsourcing.#These#are#primarily#members#who#come#from#
business#and#are#used#to#approach#problems#in#a#straightforward#business?like#manner.#The#
tend#to#talk#about#the#parliament#(or#the#public)#as#“the#client”#and#about#writing#the#
constitution#as#a#task#that#could#be#described#using#the#vocabulary#of#business#and#
technology.
The#problem#with#this#approach#however#becomes#clear#once#“the#client”#has#received#the#
goods.#A#constitution#is#a#text#requiring#interpretation#and#“the#client”#has#no#exclusive#rights#
over#that#interpretation.#Neither#does#the#provider.#The#business#approach#tends#to#ignore#the#
politics#of#constitution?making,#as#if#a#written#document#could#present#a#ready?made#
constitution.#But#perhaps#the#process#has#barely#begun#once#the#draft#is#complete.#At#the#
opening#session#of#Althing,#the#Icelandic#parliament,#the#president#in#his#traditional#opening#
speech,#declared#that#the#DC#signiEied#a#radical#change#in#Icelandic#politics,#making#the#
president#a#powerful#Eigure,#with#a#key#role#in#government#formation,#overseeing#senior#
appointments#in#the#central#administration#and#the#judiciary#system.#One#CC#member#
immediately#responded#maintaining#that#the#president’s#understanding#of#the#DC#was#based#
on#a#“misunderstanding”,#that#no#real#power#was#intended#for#the#president.#Another#CC#
member#argued#that,#well,#yes,#the#DC#did#in#fact#increase#the#power#given#to#the#president,#
and#well,#the#reason#was#mainly#that#the#national#forum#had#given#a#clear#signal#that#
increased#presidential#power#was#indeed#desirable.
The#exchange#clearly#shows#that#whatever#the#method#of#creating#a#draft#constitution,#the#
work#is#not#done#once#the#text#has#been#submitted#to#“the#client”.#If#the#CC#is#to#retain#its#
authority#over#what#the#constitution#says,#it#must#also#be#engaged#in#discussing#it.#
[The#draft#constitution#vs#the#current#constitution
All#chapters#are#changed#and#all#articles#that#remain#rewritten#to#some#extent.
Although#the#goal#was#to#clarify#relationships#of#power#and#the#division#of#power,#it#seems#
that#because#certain#parts#of#the#constitution#are#completely#rewritten,#new#space#for#
interpretation#is#created.#Certain#unpredictability#arises.#The#text#seems#clearer#than#the#text#
of#the#old#constitution#with#its#archaic#word#usage#and#sentence#structure,#but#since#it#is#new#
it#allows#for#new#interpretations.#
The#development#of#the#ideas#of#“national#initiative”#and#“national#referednum”
A#certain#percentage#of#the#electorate#can#submit#a#bill#to#the#parliament.#If#the#parliament#
fails#to#approve#it,#10%#of#the#electorate#can#force#a#referendum#to#be#held.#Thus#it#is#possible#
to#pass#into#law#bills#that#have#no#support#in#the#parliament,#and#fail#even#to#be#discussed#
there#to#any#extent.
12
THIS%PAPER%IS%AN%INCOMPLETE%DRAFT
The#parliament#is#more#independent#from#the#government#than#in#the#current#constitution.#
Ministers#do#not#retain#their#seats#in#the#parliament,#they#have#very#limited#inEluence#on#what#
is#discussed#in#the#parliament.#Their#involvement#in#legislation#is#dramatically#reduced#from#
what#it#is#now
Should#we#be#asking#about#the#product?
The#discussion#surrounding#the#draft/bill#seem#to#focus#on#the#question#whether#the#council#
manages#actually#to#write#a#new#constitution,#its#real#success#may#lie#elsewhere,#i.e.#in#
improving#political#culture#in#Iceland#and#even#in#becoming#the#breeding#ground#for#a#new#
political#force.
Some#members#of#the#CC#clearly#think#that#anything#less#than#either#approval#by#the#
parliament#or#a#referendum#is#a#betrayal#of#democratic#procedure.#But#on#the#other#hand#it#
can#also#be#argued#that#the#institution#of#procedures#that#tie#the#hands#of#MP’s#creating#a#
structure#where#their#decisions#can#be#determined#by#some#“public#will”,#is#also#
undemocratic.]
Conclusion
The#Icelandic#Constitutional#Council#is#an#ongoing#experiment.#It#has#not#ended#although#
formally#the#council#has#Einished#its#task#and#been#dissolved.#The#exercise,#whatever#its#result,#
is#an#important#step#in#renewing#or#revitalizing#political#culture#in#Iceland#and#the#
experiments#of#crowdsourcing#are#surely#very#interesting.#The#problem#with#the#CC#however#
are#the#half#measures#that#characterize#it,#and#especially#the#total#absence#of#method,#theory#
or#principle#in#designing#the#approach#to#constitutional#law.
[Comparison#with#Citizen’s#assemblies#and#deliberative#polls]
13
THIS%PAPER%IS%AN%INCOMPLETE%DRAFT
Appendix#1:#Results#of#the#National#forum#6#November#20101
[950#randomly#selected#individuals#took#part#in#the#National#forum.#The#used#discussion#and#
repeated#voting#in#small#groups#to#articulate#a#certain#set#of#values#and#general#policy#
statements#which#then#were#presented#to#the#public#and#submitted#to#the#Constitutional#
Committee#for#inclusion#in#the#materials#prepared#for#the#Constitutional#Assembly]
The#main#conclusions#from#the#National#Forum#2010#have#now#been#presented.#They#are#
divided#into#eight#separate#themes#and#reElect#what#participants#wish#to#see#form#the#basis#of#
Iceland's#new#constitution.#themes:
The#themes#summary:#
#COUNTRY#AND#NATION#?#Values#and#related#issues#regarding#the#independence#of#the#
country,#culture#and#its#advantages#such#as#vision,#the#value#of#the#Icelandic#language#and#the#
country's#rural#areas.
The#constitution#is#a#covenant#which#guarantees#sovereignty#and#independence#for#Icelanders#
and#is#written#for#the#people#in#the#country.#The#role#of#the#constitution#is#to#guard#the#
Icelandic#language,#its#culture#and#the#nation's#resources.#It#should#be#introduced#in#schools#
and#it#must#be#guaranteed#that#the#public#can#have#a#say#in#decisions#regarding#national#
affairs.#The#image#of#Iceland#shall#be#strengthened,#multiculturalism#encouraged#as#well#as#
separation#between#state#and#religion.
#MORALITY#?#General#moral#values#without#special#connection#with#government#or#politics#
such#as#honesty,#respect,#responsibility,#tolerance,#justice#and#sympathy.
The#constitution#shall#be#based#on#moral#values.#The#morality#theme#of#the#new#constitution#
shall#be#respect#for#humans,#freedom#of#speech#and#consideration.#An#emphasis#shall#be#on#
the#honesty#of#elected#representatives,#public#ofEicials,#laws#and#legal#ethics.##To#strengthen#
and#improve#the#morality#of#the#nation,#ethics#should#be#taught#in#the#country's#schools#and#
the#social#responsibility#of#the#public#must#be#increased.#In#Iceland#a#clear#framework#must#be#
set#up#by#which#the#authorities#must#work,#focusing#on#respect,#responsibility#and#duties#
towards#the#country's#people.
#HUMAN#RIGHTS#?#Values#that#are#the#basis#or#go#hand#in#hand#with#accepted#human#rights#
such#as#equality,#freedom#of#speech,#education,#religious#freedom#and#right#of#ownership.
Everyone#shall#enjoy#human#rights#according#to#international#covenants#on#human#rights#that#
Iceland#has#promised#to#honour,#such#as#freedom#of#speech,#personal#privacy,#religious#
freedom#and#the#right#of#ownership.#Equality#shall#be#guaranteed#by#law#regardless#of#gender,#
religion,#nationality,#race,#residence#and#sexual#orientation.#Everyone#shall#have#the#same#
opportunity#for#education,#health#care#and#minimum#essentials#of#living.#Each#vote#shall#have#
equal#value.
#JUSTICE,#WELLBEING#AND#EQUALITY#?#Values#and#related#issues#regarding#general#justice,#
wellbeing#and#equality#in#relation#to#education,#health#and#essentials#of#living#etc.
All#persons#in#the#country#shall#be#guaranteed#a#decent#livelihood#regardless#of#gender,#race,#
age,#residence,#work,#nationality,#religious#belief,#Einancial#situation,#handicap,#sexual#
orientation#or#opinions.#Everyone#shall#have#equal#right#to#minimum#essentials#of#living,#
education,#health#care#and#social#service.#Everyone#shall#have#rights#to#pension#beneEits.#The#
value#of#votes#shall#be#equal#and#the#penal#code#clear.
#THE#NATURE#OF#ICELAND,#CONSERVATION#AND#UTILISATION#?#Values#and#related#issues#
regarding#the#environment,#including#natural#resources,#such#as#conservation#of#the#
environment#and#public#property.
The#nature#and#the#country's#natural#resources#are#unassignable#public#properties#that#must#
be#protected,#used#and#utilised#sustainably#in#such#a#way#that#public#access#is#guaranteed.##
1"See"the"National"forum"website:"http://www.thjodfundur2010.is/frettir/lesa/item32858/."This"is"a"summary"
in"English"of"the"main"results"of"the"forum.
14
THIS%PAPER%IS%AN%INCOMPLETE%DRAFT
Clear#laws#must#be#enacted#regarding#the#nation's#ownership#and#utilisation#rights#of#natural#
resources,#nature#and#biosphere.#Icelandic#nature#and#resources#must#be#protected#to#the#
beneEit#of#future#generations.
#
DEMOCRACY#?#Values#and#related#issues#of#any#kind#relating#to#the#nation's#participation#in#
governing#the#country,#such#as#referendum#and#voting#rights.#Also#values#related#to#
prerequisites#for#democracy,#such#as#communication#of#information.#Iceland's#democracy#
shall#be#active#and#transparent.#The#value#of#votes#shall#be#equal#in#one#constituency,#elections#
of#individual#candidates,#limited#time#of#membership#of#parliament#and#fewer#members#of#
parliament.#The#democracy#shall#be#based#on#the#triple#division#of#power#and#clear#laws#on#
referendum#in#important#issues.#The#appointment#of#judges#shall#be#reconsidered,#only#voters#
with#equal#voting#value#can#amend#the#constitution.
#
DIVISION#OF#POWER,#RESPONSIBILITY#AND#TRANSPARENCY#?#Values#and#related#issues#
regarding#general#development#of#the#state#and#the#use#of#state#authority#such#as#division#of#
power,#transparency#and#stability.#Also#values#(and#related#issues)#regarding#the#work#of#
individual#institutions#and#the#holders#of#state#authority#and#their#responsibility.#The#triple#
division#of#power#must#be#guaranteed#where#the#role#and#responsibility#of#the#authorities#is#
clear.#Ministers#shall#not#serve#as#members#of#parliament#along#with#their#ministry#post.#The#
constitution#should#guarantee#transparency#and#supervision#of#the#country's#administration.#
Professional#methods#shall#be#used#when#recruiting#people#for#the#administrational#positions.#
The#power#of#the#President#of#Iceland#shall#be#reconsidered#and#a#decision#shall#be#made#
regarding#his#veto.#There#should#be#a#time#limit#to#the#membership#of#parliament.#The#
independence#of#the#courts#shall#be#guaranteed.
#
PEACE#AND#INTERNATIONAL#COOPERATION#?#Values#and#related#issues#regarding#Iceland's#
position#in#the#international#community,#such#as#security,#peace#and#impartiality.#Iceland#shall#
be#an#independent#and#sovereign#state#which#emphasises#cooperation#with#other#nations,#
especially#in#northern#regions.#Iceland#shall#be#an#advocate#of#peace#and#shall#engage#in#
international#cooperation#with#that#purpose.#The#security#of#the#country#shall#be#guaranteed.#
Iceland#shall#participate#in#cooperation#in#protecting#nature,#self?sustaining#use#of#natural#
resources,#protection#of#human#rights#and#development#aid.##Iceland#shall#be#without#an#army#
and#free#of#nuclear#arms.
#
Participants#at#the#National#Forum#placed#strong#emphasis#on#honesty#and#integrity,#
particularly#in#the#public#sector#and#among#public#ofEicials.#They#wished#to#see#ethics#and#
morality#become#a#more#integral#part#of#Icelandic#society,#via#various#channels#such#as#
introducing#morality#and#ethics#into#education#at#an#early#age.#Participants#also#wished#to#see#
a#separation#between#religion#and#state.#Human#rights#also#featured#strongly#in#the#Forum#
results,#as#well#as#equal#access#to#health#care#and#education.#Participants#wish#to#see#Iceland#
participate#in#international#cooperation#and#be#an#advocate#of#peace,#including#being#a#
military?#and#nuclear?free#zone.#There#was#a#strong#call#for#protection#of#Iceland's#nature#and#
for#clear#laws#and#regulations#to#be#set#to#ensure#that#Iceland's#natural#resources#remain#
under#Icelandic#control.#Moreover,#participants#wish#for#democracy#to#be#a#strong#force#in#
Icelandic#society#and#to#be#based#on#principles#such#as#the#clear#separation#of#power#and#
transparency.
The#full#results#will#be#submitted#as#guidelines#reElecting#the#views#of#the#Icelandic#public#to#
representatives#elected#to#undertake#the#constitutional#review#next#spring.
15
THIS%PAPER%IS%AN%INCOMPLETE%DRAFT
Appendix#2:#The#role#of#the#Constitutional#Council2
The#role#of#the#Constitutional#Council#is#to#discuss#the#Constitutional#Committee#Report#and#
prepare#a#bill#about#a#revised#constitution,#taking#into#consideration#the#results#of#the#
National#Forum#2010.#The#Constitutional#Council#decides#which#parts#shall#be#revised#and/or#
suggests#new#provisions#or#chapters#be#added#to#the#current#Constitution.#The#Constitutional#
Council#has#three#to#four#months#to#complete#its#role#and#is#comprised#of#25#delegates.
When#the#Council#has#come#to#an#agreement#about#a#bill#about#a#revised#constitution#the#bill#
will#be#sent#to#Althingi#for#processing.#The#revised#constitution#does#not#come#into#force#
unless#the#requirements#of#the#current#Constitution#are#fulEilled#and#these#requirements#state#
that#Althingi#has#the#Einal#word#with#voting#between#two#discussions.
General#meetings#of#the#whole#Constitutional#Council#are#called#Council#Meetings.#All#
members#of#the#Council#participate#in#those#meetings.#Council#Meetings#are#open#to#the#public#
and#anyone#can#attend#while#there#is#enough#room.
According#to#a#parliamentary#resolution#about#the#Constitutional#Council#the#Council#shall#
discuss#the#following#matters#in#particular:
The#foundation#of#the#Icelandic#Constitution#and#its#basic#concepts.
The#organisation#of#the#legislative?#and#executive#powers#and#their#limits.
The#role#and#position#of#the#President#of#the#Republic.
The#independence#of#the#courts#and#their#supervision#of#other#holders#of#state#authority.
Provisions#about#elections#and#the#constituency#system.
Democratic#public#participation#e.g.#in#the#timing#and#arrangement#of#referendum,#including#a#
bill#about#constitutional#laws.
Transfer#of#state#authority#to#international#organisations#and#handling#of#foreign#affairs.
Environmental#affairs,#such#as#regarding#ownership#and#utilisation#of#natural#resources.
The#Constitutional#Council#may#decide#to#discuss#more#topics#than#those#mentioned#above.
2"See"the"Constitutional"Council’s"website:"http://stjornlagarad.is/english/.
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