Specialist Bodies for Constitution Making

This IDEA publication examines how different constitution making bodies (special forums, committees or commissions, and assemblies - appointed and/or elected) have been utilized in Eastern Europe, Latin America, and Africa. The publication begins with a mapping exercise drawing on cases from three regions and showing what these specialist bodies are, what functions they have, and what their basic rationale is. It continues by looking at the challenges and problems that are associated with the use of these bodies. The conclusion provides a overall assessment of the usefulness of specialist bodies