Introduction

Researching comparative constitutional law usually involves locating three different types of materials: the text of the constitutions, scholarly writings about your topic, and if possible, relevant case law from the selected country. This research guide is organized by these areas.

If you have questions, please feel free to contact the Wolff Library reference desk at 202-662-4195 or by email: intlref@law.georgetown.edu. You may also submit your question via this online form.

Sources for Constitutions

The text of foreign constitutions may be found in a variety of sources including both print and electronic mediums. Current constitutions are often available on foreign government websites, but usually only in the local language. The publications listed below are large collections of foreign constitutions (usually in English).

If these sources do not have the necessary constitution, consult Foreign Law Guide (GULC only). Just locate your jurisdiction and then see the "Constitution and Political Legislation" subject heading to locate citations that provide the text of the constitution.

Selected Database and Print Sources

• Constitutions of the Countries of the World
  This database is the premier online source for world constitutions. It is also available in print. INTL K3157.A2B4
• Constitutions of Dependencies & Territories Online
  This database is the companion source to Constitutions of the Countries of the World. Also available in print. INTL K3157.A2 B441 1998
• Constitutions of the World : 1850 to the Present
  Useful for historical research of past versions of constitutions. INTL K3165 .C66 2002 Micro
• Central & Eastern European Legal Materials INTL KJC2045 .C46 1990

Selected Websites

• Constitution Finder
• International Constitutional Law
• National Constitutions
• Constitutions of the Americas
• Native American Constitutions and Law Digitization Project
• Rise of Modern Constitutionalism, 1776-1849
  This site seeks to include all constitutions that these scholars consider part of the constitutional movement during these times. Offers images and translations of 18th and 19th century materials.
• Constitutional Law (WashLaw)

Commentary and Analysis

Scholarly writings provide detailed analysis, comparative discussions and historical perspective. Very often these materials summarize, quote, reprint, and cite legislation, case law and other pertinent primary and secondary sources. Scholarly materials are not usually available free on the web. However, the library subscribes to some useful databases that are accessible electronically.

Use keyword searching in the online catalog to locate materials in the library. Sample keyword searches could be "constitution and South Africa" or "France and constitutional history."

Selected Titles

The followings titles are just a sampling of recent publications that the library owns that provide commentary on constitutional law.

• Akiba, Okon, Constitutionalism and Society in Africa INTL KQC524.C658 2004
• Church, Clive H. and David Phinnemore, Understanding the European Constitution : An Introduction to the EU Constitutional Treaty INTL KJE4445 .C49 2005
• Fleiner, Thomas, Swiss Constitutional Law INTL KKW2070.F48 2005
• Goldsworthy, Jeffrey, Interpreting Constitutions : A Comparative Study INTL K3165.I582 2006
• Lenaerts, Koen, Constitutional law of the European Union (2nd edition) INTL KJE5076.L46 2005
• Palmer, Geoffrey, Bridled Power : New Zealand's Constitution and Government (4th edition) INTL JQ5831.P35 2004
• Uitz, Renata, Constitutions, Courts, and History : Historical Narratives in Constitutional Adjudication INTL K3165.U38 2005
• Ward, Ian, The English Constitution : Myths and Realities INTL KD3989.W37 2004

Electronic Full Text Databases of Scholarly Materials

Below are highlighted two databases that are especially helpful for locating policy materials. For a complete list of databases available at the library, see our online collection.

• Columbia International Affairs Online (CIAO)
  Scholarly documents from leading international relations research centers. Complete texts of working papers from university research institutes, occasional papers series from NGOs, foundation-funded research projects, and proceedings from conferences. Also, journal issues and books. Coverage begins in 1991. (GULC only)
• PolicyFile : Public Policy Research and Analysis
  Abstracts of data from public policy think tanks, university research programs and publishers, with coverage from 1990. Links to organizational home pages and to full text documents, where available. (GULC only)

Legal Periodicals & Indexes

Periodical literature is a good way to obtain background information, locate the text of a foreign law or citation, or to find scholarly commentary about a subject. Sometimes, periodicals are your only source for foreign laws or case summaries. Indexes are the most efficient and comprehensive means of locating articles. Remember, Westlaw and Lexis have limited full text journal articles and limited international journal coverage. The library has many other indexes. Consult the Journal Index page for a complete list. If you would like more help with searching for journals, see our general guide on journal searching or our guide on locating foreign and international journal articles.

Full Text Articles - Electronic Access

Your first step in determining whether you have full-text electronic access to a journal article is to check the E-Journal Finder. This is located on our homepage, under Quick Links at the top right. Most often, you will enter the name of the journal you are looking for (not the name of the article itself). The E-Journal Finder will tell you whether the library has full-text electronic access to that journal, and for which years. The E-Journal Finder includes Lexis and Westlaw access.

Here is a selection of some of the most useful full-text databases for researching comparative constitutional law. There are others--check the E-Journal Finder to find out what's available.

• Academic Search Premier
  Provides full-text for over 3,400 publications on many academic topics.
• Cambridge University Press Journals
• HeinOnline
  Provides PDF access to dozens of legal journals. Great for historical research since older volumes are not on Westlaw or Lexis.
• JSTOR
  JSTOR is a full-text archive of scholarly journals covering law and other areas. PDFs available.
• Kluwer Law International Journals
  Covers many non-U.S. journals unavailable elsewhere electronically.
• Oxford University Press Journals

Court Decisions

Keep in mind that in many countries, court decisions are not considered primary law and there may not be an official publication for decisions. For many countries, only the country's highest court will issue its decisions In these cases, periodical literature may be the best and only source for decisions. The strategies and sources below can help you get started.

1. Search the online catalog using keyword searching such as "court and decisions and Canada".
2. Check the sections on "Court Reports" for your country online in the Foreign Law Guide. This section will tell you whether the country issues official reports or if you must look in other sources, such as periodicals.
3. Lexis and Westlaw contain summaries or full-text case law from selected countries. Consult their directories for more information.

Selected Titles

• International Law Reports INTL KX68.I58
• International Legal Materials INTL REF KZ64.I58 Also available on Lexis and Westlaw.
• Law Reports of the Commonwealth INTL K3165.A495 L38
• The Supreme Court Decisions on the Canadian Constitution INTL KE4216.35.C66 C36 1981
• A Digest of Australian Constitutional Cases INTL KU24.A3 1992
• East European Case Reporter of Constitutional Law INTL KJC5456.A52 E27
• Bulletin on Constitutional Case-Law INTL KJC4444.52.B85 Covers European and certain other countries.
• Decisions of the Bundesverfassungsgericht INTL KK5466.5 .B863 1992 Covers the German Constitutional Court.

Selected Web Sites

• Institute for Transnational Law (University of Texas at Austin) This site does not have extensive content yet, but translated decisions from Austria, France, Germany and Israel are being added.
• Supreme Court Decisions (Global Courts)
• Links to Constitutional Courts and Equivalent Bodies (Council of Europe)
• WorldLII: Courts & Case Law
• World Law Guide (Courts/Cases)