James Madison's Montpelier We The People Spring 2014 | Page 13

the U.S. Department of State and the Presidential Precinct, Montpelier’s collaboration with
the University of Virginia, the College of William and Mary, Monticello, Morven, and Ash
Lawn-Highland, have contributed to this success and helped make possible recent programs.

N AT I O N AT A C R O S S R O A D S

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n December, eight Burmese (Myanmar) delegates came to Montpelier for a two-day
discussion about the ideas of federalism and constitutional reform processes. The lead legal
advisor to Aung San Suu Kyi (presidential candidate and opposition leader), a journalist, and
members of the upper and lower Parliament representing several parties were in attendance.
Meeting behind closed doors, the group exchanged views about the current constitution
and the need for reform in a frank discussion led by Dr. David S. Law, Professor of Law and
Political Science at Washington University in St. Louis. While the future of Burma (Myanmar)
is yet to be determined, our hope is that their aspirations for constitutional changes later this
year are on firmer ground thanks to their work at Montpelier.

WE THE PEOPLE

AT HOME AND ABROAD

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