Table of Contents

Preface; List of cases; List of constitutions; List of statutes; List of other instruments; Map; Introduction; 1. The democratic state in Africa: setting the scene; 2. Constitutions and the search for a viable political order; 3. Devising popular and durable national constitutions: the new constitutions of the 1990s; 4. Perfecting imperfections: amending a constitution; 5. Presidentialism and restraints upon executive power; 6. Enhancing access to the political system; 7. Making legislatures effective; 8. The judiciary and the protection of constitutional rights; 9. The devolution of power to local communities; 10. Developing autochthonous oversight bodies: human rights commissions and offices of the ombudsman; 11. Seeking constitutional control of the military; 12. Constitutionalism and emergency powers; 13. Constitutional governance: the lessons from southern and eastern experience; Bibliography; Index.

Promotional Information

Considers the problems of constitutionalism and addresses the legal issues of making constitutions 'work'.

About the Author

Muna Ndulo is Professor of Law, Cornell Law School. Peter Slinn, School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London

Reviews

' … an important contribution to the burgeoning field of comparative constitutionalism by bringing discussions of democracy in Commonwealth Africa into focus … this book offers tremendous insights for policy makers and students of African law and politics … the book insightfully and straightforwardly captures the complexity of the challenges of democratisation in the region.' International Journal of Constitutional Law