What does Direct Democracy look like? Iceland is getting a new Constitution, written by ordinary people

"Iceland's getting a new constitution and it's really going to be the voice of the people."

From the Beaver County Times
Link to full article

"The sparsely-populated volcanic island is holding an unusual election Saturday to select ordinary citizens to cobble together a new charter, an exercise in direct democracy born out of the outrage and soul-searching that followed the nation's economic meltdown.

Hundreds of people are vying for the chance to be among up to 31 people who will form the Constitutional Assembly slated to convene early next year -- a source of huge pride for Icelanders who have seen their egos take a beating in recent years.

"This is the first time in the history of the world that a nation's constitution is reviewed in such a way, by direct democratic process," says Berghildur Erla Bergthorsdottir, spokeswoman for the committee entrusted with organizing the Constitutional Assembly."

*Photo courtesy of Icelandic Parliament

Link to post describing Constitutional Assembly

Iceland had never had any real constitution, but a "copy-and-paste" text derived from the Danish one, established in 1944, and where the word 'King' had been replaced by 'President of the Republic'.