Animals and the Constitution

This talk will explore how constitutionalism—the idea that constitutions should limit and direct government power—might evolve to include all sentient beings. Drawing on themes from their new book "Animals and the Constitution," John Adenitire and Raffael Fasel will introduce the concept of "sentience-based constitutionalism," a framework that grounds constitutional principles in respect for the interests of all governed sentient beings by rethinking rights, democracy, proportionality, and the rule of law. Through real-world examples—from Ecuador's recognition of animal rights to Switzerland's direct-democratic votes on primate rights—the talk will show how constitutional systems can better reflect our ethical and legal responsibilities toward animals.