Popular Sovereignty and the Use of the Referendum – Comparative Perspectives with Reference to France

Constitutions are bound to evolve. A constitution which cannot change or adapt does not serve effectively its purpose since the values and principles it is based upon need to be 'brought to life' through interpretation, application and incremental revisions: in sum, a successful 'living constitution' has a past, present and future. In this regard, it is remarkable to observe how the Irish and French Constitutions have survived through time as two of the most enduring constitutions in Europe without either becoming a mere 'petrified object of devotion'.