Reforming the Political Constitution in Panama: Challenges for a New Constitution

10.2478/bjlp-2022-007076

Abstract

This study addresses the evolution of Panama’s constitutions with the objective of identifying criteria to guide the public on the need for constitutional changes. In methodological terms, a qualitative approach is applied, involving a sociolegal document analysis of constitutional reform processes in Panama of two stages involving 1. A constitutional theoretical framework and 2. an analysis of constitutional reform processes in Panama. We start from the hypothesis that constitutional reform requires minimum conditions of citizen participation, trust in institutions, transparency and political and social consensus on subject matter to adopt changes to Panama’s Political Constitution. The results identify seven minimum criteria to guide the decision to initiate the constitutional reform process, be it a constitutional act or a Parallel Constituent Assembly.