The Consensus Artifact: Designing a New Constitution Made Easy!

This book is about democracy and according to the author Rodger Hills, the key to creating a better and more socially just society are constitutions written by ordinary citizens, for ordinary citizens.

All at once, this gripping constitutional education and awareness book, manages to be thought-provoking reading, an essential reference book, and a stirring call to personal action. Packed with some of the clearest, and easiest-to-understand material on how our political systems should really work, The Consensus Artifact challenges us to take back control of our democracy.

The Consensus Artifact has recently been cited by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) in The World Public Sector Report (WPSR) 2007, People Matter: Civic Engagement in Public Governance.

Book Details

Format: Paperback (English) - 192 pages
Publisher: Astro Projects (November 2007)
ISBN: 9780646478296
LCCN: 2008378787
OCLC: 232358488
Dewey Reference: 342
Book Dimensions: 210x148x11.5 mm (8.3x5.8x0.5 inches)

Online Price: AUD$19.99 + Shipping and Handling

Ships from: Astro Projects in Australia.

Book Reviews

Review by Daniela Giorgi
Education Officer NSW Parliament and Curriculum Adviser, Civics and Citizenship, NSW Department of Education and Training

"This easy to read, well-written book gives clear, yet detailed explanations of what can be complex issues that surround Constitutions - the framework of laws that govern our legal and political systems. The Consensus Artifact is a valuable reference for thinking about these structures.

Part One of the book introduces readers to the International Constitutional Harmonization Project, which is a hypothetical non-government organisation formed to research and develop a Universal Constitution. The second part of the book uses hypothetical interviews with imaginary democratic experts from around the world, to explore topics related to the drafting of a Universal Constitution. These topics range from citizenship, elections, taxation, courts, and law-making through to finance and conduct in office. Part Three presents the Universal Constitution, distilled and created from the issues raised in the hypothetical interviews.

The Universal Constitution and the book itself, make an interesting basis for discussion of these important issues. A valuable addition to national, state, university, public and school libraries; this book renews our understanding of the complexity and richness of our civil society as well as its possibilities."

Review by Jennifer Connor
Australian Law Librarian
Volume 16, Number 2, 2008

"Interesting philosophical discussion on constitutional development.....
...broad enough to encompass the idealistic goals of society and diverse and flexible enough to cope with the disparities in society.
Comparisons could be made with the current constitutions of various countries and the works of historic societal thinkers from ancient Greek Plato to modern day political philosophers are all appropriate."
(Click here for full review. PDF, 1 Page, 496kb)

The Consensus Artifact Reference List

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