Constitution Quote by Michelle Bachelet
“We need to reform the constitution in Chile. The current one was written and passed in 1980 during the dictatorship. Some changes were made after the return of democracy, but its origins remain illegitimate. Instead of continuing to make fixes here and there, we need to undertake fundamental changes to our constitution to make it reflect the reality of our democratic society.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Public address on constitutional reform, Chile, 2022
The existing Chilean constitution, drafted under a dictatorship, lacks democratic legitimacy and must be replaced with a new, fully representative charter.
In simple terms: Chile needs a new constitution that reflects its democratic values.
Key Takeaway
Pursue a comprehensive rewrite, not piecemeal fixes.
Themes
democracy
legitimacy
governance
reform
citizen participation
Mood
determined
hopeful
Type
political
activist
When to use this quote
- national elections
- public consultations
- legislative drafting
- civil society advocacy
Key Concepts
constitutional law
political legitimacy
social contract
Questions to Reflect On
- What mechanisms can ensure broad consensus?
- How can marginalized groups be included?
A Different Perspective
Deep political divisions may stall consensus on a new charter.
![“Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then [these?], any man might instantly use what another had invented; so that the inventor had no special advantage from his own invention. The patent system changed this…” quote by Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/449/abraham-lincoln-88_adoption_next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in_1828.jpg)
