Perspective Please

The Iraqis are about to complete their work on a written Constitution to be presented to the citizens of Iraq in a referendum this fall. There has been much handwringing by some in the media over the pace of the deliberations and the provisions which may or may not be included.

We seem to be holding the Iraqis to a standard no country has ever successfully met: Iraq should write a perfect constitution that satisfies the expectations of ALL its people (as well as Western sensibilities) and that they should do so in world record time.

The people who wrote the U.S. Constitution argued vehemently over many of its provisions when they were first putting it together. Disagreement and debate have continued throughout our history leading to amendments, repeal of amendments, more amendments. The Supreme Court has interpreted some provision of the Constitution one way and reversed itself years or even decades later. We still fight about it (see coverage in re nomination of John Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court). And we've only had one written Constitution (two if you include the Articles of Confederation).

What about other countries? Looking at the history of just a few random countries, this is what I found:

France has had at least 12 written Constitutions since 1789.

Britain doesn't have a written Constitution at all.

Chile has had at least 8 since 1811.

The Philippines has adopted 5 different Constitutions during its history.

So has Poland. And Turkey, too.

Switzerland has had 6.

Writing a constitution that will survive the test of time is hard work. No one has ever gotten it exactly right the first time. Maybe we should give the Iraqis a break here.