Abstract
In this study we apply a methodology proposed by Imbeau and Jacob to test the veil of ignorance hypothesis in the Chadian and Cameroonian cases. In a first step, we present the context that led to the making of the Chadian and Cameroonian constitutions and in a second step, we analyze, in the light of that context, the uncertainty measures derived from a content analysis of those constitutions. Overall, our evidences are mixed: our uncertainty measures are sometimes found to be rather counterintuitive. We suggest that in cases where there are presumably legal writing styles and traditions, content analysis-based measures of uncertainty can be noisy.
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Notes
- 1.
For further discussion on that concept and how it applies to the VOIP, see Imbeau (2009).
- 2.
After World War I, the German colony Kamerun (later Cameroon) was divided into two parts; the eastern part was mandated to France and the western part to Great Britain by the League of Nation. From a legal point of view, Eastern Cameroon was a League of Nation mandate, but in reality, it was administered by France like a colony.
- 3.
Tombalbaye was a Christian from the South.
- 4.
In 2008, the current president Idriss Deby defeated in extremis, a rebellion with the help of the French army.
- 5.
Habré’s regime is notorious for human rights abuses; Habré is now on trial for the crimes committed under his regime.
- 6.
The Dutch political scientist was invited to attend the conference as an observer and followed the conference from a vantage point.
- 7.
The first president of Cameroon.
- 8.
British Cameroon was made up of two entities: South British Cameroon and North British Cameroon. The former joined the French Cameroon, while the latter joined Nigeria.
- 9.
For further historical details, see Chatain et al. (2012).
- 10.
- 11.
Under the Cameroonian federalism, there was a rule according to which the vice president should be Anglophone.
- 12.
The 1975 amendment established the office of prime minister and that of 1979 made the prime minister the constitutional successor of the president upon vacancy.
- 13.
Ahidjo stepped down as president of the country but remained president of the unique party and wanted to maintain a control over his successor. For Further details, see Bouopda (2008).
- 14.
The office of prime minister had been restored earlier in 1991.
- 15.
See Olinga (2006).
- 16.
See Imbeau and Jacob (2012), for details on the computation of that statistics.
- 17.
The Law on Freedom of Association (Law No. 90/053 of 19 December 1990) is a prominent example of this series of laws; it allowed people to freely create political parties or political associations.
- 18.
See for example, “Drafting Legal Documents”, http://www.archives.gov/federal-register/write/legal-docs/clear-writing.html.
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Eboutou, T.C. (2015). Constitutional Choices Turned into Simple In-Period Choices: A Power Relations Reading of the Chadian and Cameroonian Constitutions. In: Imbeau, L., Jacob, S. (eds) Behind a Veil of Ignorance?. Studies in Public Choice, vol 32. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-14953-0_13
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