ICON-S (Singapore) Symposium on Interrogating Constitutionalism

On 19 September 2019, NUS Law’s Centre for Asian Legal Studies (CALS) and the Singapore Management University School of Law (SMU Law) co-organised a symposium on “Interrogating Constitutionalism”. The symposium was held at NUS Law’s Bukit Timah Campus.

Convened by Associate Professor Jaclyn Neo ’03 (NUS Law) and Associate Professor Maartje De Visser (Associate Dean, SMU Law), this is the second tie-up between the Singapore Chapter of the International Society of Public Law with NUS Law and SMU Law. Associate Professor Neo and Associate Professor De Visser are the founding co-chairs of the Singapore Chapter.

Professor Andrew Harding (NUS Law), a preeminent scholar in the fields of Asian legal studies and comparative constitutional law, delivered the introductory remarks. This was followed by two panels featuring speakers from academia, civil society, the legal profession, as well as the government.

The first panel on “Constitutionalism and Interdisciplinarity” considered the imperatives of using non-legal methodologies to understand and study the constitution. Panelists, Professor Mark Findlay (SMU Law), Adjunct Professor Kevin Tan ’86 (NUS Law), Professor Ran Hirschl (University of Toronto and Kwa Geok Choo Distinguished Visitor, NUS Law) and Ms Corinna Lim ’87 (Executive Director, Association of Women for Action and Research) discussed the prerequisites and challenges in using such methodologies responsibly and effectively. Assistant Professor Dian Shah (NUS Law) moderated the session.

The second panel on “Constitutional Supremacy in an Age of Statutes” discussed the frequency with which statutes are adopted is on the rise, and the knock-on constitutional implications of such laws. The panel consisted of Mr Hui Choon Kuen (Dean, Attorney-General’s Chambers Academy), Professor Chang Wen-Chen (Dean, National Chiao Tung University), Mr Lanx Goh (Senior Legal Counsel, Klook Travel Technology Pte Ltd), Ms Priscilla Chia (Associate, Peter Low & Choo LLC) and Assistant Professor Kenny Chng (SMU Law). Dr Jack Lee ’95 (Deputy Research Director, Singapore Academy of Law) moderated the session. The panel debated some of the most pertinent questions that arise in this regard, including pre-enactment review, remedial interpretation and ouster clauses.

The event closed with some thoughtful reflections and remarks on the day’s discussions from the convenors. Some of the issues discussed and further reflections can be found on the blog of the International Journal of Public Law (ICONNECT blog).