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Magna Carta: a debate that Politics departments cannot afford to miss
In July 2014 the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee published its report: A New Magna Carta? The report set out the arguments for and against codifying the constitution of the country and the process for producing a written constitution. The committee chair, Graham Allen M.P, has now started a consultation on the report in the form of a national debate
As part of the process Graham Allen is calling on universities across the country to engage their students in the debate. De Montfort University’s Department of Politics and Public Policy, building on the success of its recent student Policy Commission launched at the House of Lords, responded to the call by offering to host a series of events focused on the project. Those student focused events can be used as a model for the way universities can engage their students with what is an exciting and vital debate for the future governance of the country. To stimulate interest and engagement in the national discussion that will take place Politics departments can:
- Organise and host a public debate on the need for a written constitution
- Arrange a series of workshops with students, across the university, exploring in detail the issues raised in the committee’s report and whether a written constitution should be adopted and how
- Use the politics modules students study to conduct research and produce policy and discussions papers for the committee to be submitted as evidence
- Engage with students across the university and with academic staff to produce supporting written evidence for the debate
- Facilitate students to conduct research on the subject
- Survey existing written constitutions and comparing content, purpose and values under-pinning those constitutions to suggest a way forward to the committee
- Encouraging students to use their own networks to make sure their fellow students contribute to the committee’s call for a debate and to submit ideas and suggestions
Politics departments can offer their students the opportunity to stimulate and contribute to a national debate that could radically re-shape the government of the country and also effect the way in which future generations are governed. It is a debate about the future of our democracy and about restoring public faith in political activity not least among young people. The debate will ask: Do we need a Written Constitution? Which, if any, of the options set out in the report should be adopted and why? What should a written constitution contain? Responses need to be submitted, using the Committee’s webpage by 1 January 2015. It is a debate we in Politics Departments, cannot afford to miss’.