What can law students learn through a model constitutional convention?

Kate Rosier

Assistant Dean, Institutional Advancement and Public Engagement; Executive Director, Indian Legal Program

Kate Rosier (Comanche) brings extensive experience as a former tribal prosecutor and assistant general counsel who has guided more than 1,000 Native American students through legal education while leading national initiatives to increase Native representation in law schools.

Law students spend a lot of time reading constitutions. Fewer get the chance to build one.

That is what makes a model constitutional convention different. It moves students from analyzing doctrine to designing the structures that shape how governments actually function. From May 21-24, ASU Law is partnering with Washington University in St. Louis to host a model constitutional convention, giving students a chance to engage with constitutional law in a hands-on, collaborative setting.

What is a model constitutional convention?

A model constitutional convention is a simulation where students take on the role of constitutional designers. Instead of briefing cases, they:

• Draft constitutional provisions
• Debate institutional structures
• Negotiate tradeoffs between competing values
• Build consensus across different perspectives

At ASU Law, this work is closely connected to the Center for Constitutional Design, where students explore how constitutions operate not just in theory, but in practice.

How do simulations improve constitutional law education?

Traditional courses focus on what courts have said. Simulations ask a different question: what should the law be?

That shift develops skills that are central to legal practice:

• Institutional thinking: understanding how courts, legislatures and executives interact
• Problem-solving: designing systems that can function in real-world conditions
• Collaboration: working across viewpoints to reach workable outcomes
• Practical judgment: balancing ideals like liberty, equality and democratic accountability

These are the same skills lawyers use when advising governments, drafting legislation or working on public policy.

Why does constitutional design matter for future lawyers?

Constitutions are not static documents. They are frameworks that shape how power is exercised at every level of government.

Through a model constitutional convention, students begin to see:

• How federal, state and local governments can reinforce or complicate one another
• How legal rules affect everyday experiences of governance
• Why structural decisions influence rights like voting and access to justice

This reflects a broader approach at ASU Law, where students are encouraged to connect legal theory to lived experience and real institutions.

What opportunities does ASU Law offer in constitutional design?

ASU Law integrates constitutional design into both coursework and experiential learning. Through the Center for Constitutional Design, students engage with:

• Collaborative simulations like the model constitutional convention
• Research on constitutional structure and governance
• Faculty mentorship from scholars working at the forefront of public law

These opportunities build on ASU Law’s broader commitment to experiential education and public service, preparing students to engage with legal systems at every level.

How can students apply these lessons to their careers?

Students who participate in simulations like this leave with a different perspective on the law. They are better prepared to:

• Work in government or public policy
• Advise on institutional reform
• Engage in civil rights and voting rights work
• Understand how legal systems operate beyond appellate opinions

A model constitutional convention does not replace traditional legal education. It complements it by showing how the law is made, not just how it is interpreted.