■ Glossary

International assistance

The role of international or external support for national processes of constitution building has an instrumental impact on the design of these processes and the institutional choices that ultimately are framed in constitutions.

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Training programme

The new Constitution Builders CONNECT Resource – is an interactive training tool that reinforces sharing experiences as a means to building the capacity of practitioners to solve some of the dilemmas that they face in constitution building.

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Handbook

The Handbook reviews and discusses some of the institutional and procedural design choices that practitioners have recently considered during contemporary constitution building.

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Issue papers

Selected issues are considered at length based on emerging and ongoing dialogues among practitioners and specialists.

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Multimedia

A collection of multimedia resources from and about constitution-building processes.

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Web links

The web links provide a comprehensive list of relevant organizations and partners working in constitution building and related subjects.

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The glossary provides a comprehensive collection of common terms found in constitution building.

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Click one of the letters above to be taken to a page of all terms beginning with that letter.
a
Accession
The act of coming into the possession of a right, title, office, etc.
Accountability
A requirement to offer explanation for an action; responsibility for one's action (implies that there is someone to whom one is responsible).
Ad hoc
For particular purpose only: ‘an ad hoc committee’.
Administration
The function of a political state in exercising its governmental duties.
Affirmation
Asserting something strongly; more likely in constitutions to mean the equivalent of an oath but involving no religious element.
African Charter on Human and People's Rights
African Charter on Human and People's Rights is also known as the “Banjul charter”. It is an international human rights instrument that is intended to promote and protect human rights on the African continent. The charter came into effect on October 21st 1986. The African Commission of Human and People's Rights which was set up in 1987 in Banjul, the Gambia, is responsible for oversight and interpretation of the charter.
African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child
The African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, also known as the “Child Charter” and ACRWC, was adopted by the Organization of African Unity (which became the African Union in 2001) in 1990 and came into force in 1999. The charter is a wide-ranging instrument and defines universal principles and norms for the status of children. The ACRWC defines a "child" as a human being below the age of 18 years. It recognises the child's unique and privileged place in African society and that African children need protection and special care. It also acknowledges that children are entitled to the enjoyment of freedom of expression, association, peaceful assembly, thought, religion, and conscience.
Agency
An entity or organization providing specified service or having certain responsibilities: ‘governing agency’.
Aggregation
The act of gathering together (for example the act of states gathering to make a federation).
Amend
To alter, modify, rephrase, or add to or subtract from (a motion, bill, constitution, etc.) by formal procedure.
Amendment
Change or addition to a document or legal provisions: ‘constitutional amendment’.
Amnesty
A general pardon for offenses, especially political offenses, against a government, often granted before any trial or conviction.
Ancestral
Relating to ancestors (family forbears): ‘ancestral home’.
Annexure
An extra part of a document (added after the main part).
Appropriation
The act of allocating public money to a purpose.
Arab Charter on Human Rights
The Arab Charter on Human Rights was adopted by the Council of the League of Arab States on May 22nd 2004. The Charter affirms the principles contained in the UN Charter, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the International Covenants on Human Rights and the Cairo Declaration on Human Rights in Islam. The Arab Charter on Human Rights has been in force since March 15th 2008.
Arbitrary
Subject to individual will or judgment without restriction; contingent solely upon one's discretion.
Article
The main element of a constitution. A separate clause or provision of a statue (separate clauses in the constitution).
Asian Human Rights Charter
On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Asia Human Rights Charter was adopted. The charter was launched by NGO's in Asia and demonstrates the determination of the human rights movement in the Asia-Pacific region. The Asia Human Rights Charter (AHRC) affirms the universality of all human rights. Drawing upon a broad spectrum of civil society across the region, it shows that human rights, far from being an alien or foreign concept, are the legitimate aspiration and demand of people throughout Asia and the Pacific. It shows how these universal principles can be articulated powerfully from an Asian cultural, religious and philosophical perspective.
Assimilation
The process by which minority groups adopt characteristics of larger groups, including language, religion, beliefs and identity. It can be either voluntary or coerced.
Authenticated
Officially validated (of document).
Authorities
Officials or bodies with official powers. A person or body of persons in whom authority is vested, for example a governmental agency.
Autonomous region
A region having certain independent governing powers.
Autonomy
The condition of being autonomous; self-government or the right of self-government. A self-governing (to a certain extent) community.