Key People
Aristotle
Much of our knowledge of several ancient constitutions comes from the Greek philosopher Aristotle, who described the documents in his book Politics. Among the constitutions he discussed were those of Carthage, Sparta, and Athens.
James Madison
Madison is known as the “Father of the Constitution” for his critical role in the drafting of the document as well as his efforts to see it ratified. He also served as the fourth president of the United States.
Spotlight
Constitution of Haiti
The creation of the Constitution of Haiti in 1801 was a landmark on many levels. Although the constitution didn’t have a long life as a governing document, it was tremendously important, as it “launched the process of overthrowing European colonial rule in the Americas—rule that extended back some three centuries to the decades after Christopher Columbus’s historic voyage to the New World.”
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Meiji Constitution of Japan
Promulgated in 1889, the Meiji Constitution represented an era of modernization, when Japan had moved quickly from premodern authoritarianism to monarchical constitutionalism. With the emperor’s pronouncement about the document, Japan became the first Asian nation to operate under a modern, democratic constitution.
