Constitutional Justice Enny Nurbaningsih officially opening the Constitution Week XI organized by the Law Faculty of Andalas University, Sunday (23/9). Photo by Humas MK/ Yossy Adriva.

To improve constitutional awareness in the people, in collaboration with Center for Constitutional Studies (Pusako) of the Law Faculty of Andalas University the Constitutional Court held the Constitution Week XI on “Sowing the Seeds of Constitutional Values” on September 23–26, 2018. The annual event organized by the Law Faculty of Andalas University in collaboration with the Constitutional Court and the People’s Consultative Assembly (MPR) was expected to help improve constitutional awareness of the constitutional rights of citizens. The event was also expected to improve the citizens’ understanding of legal and constitutional issues in Indonesia.

The event was officially opened by Constitutional Justice Enny Nurbaningsih on Sunday, September 23, 2018 at Grand Inna Muara Hotel, Padang. Also attending the event were MPR Deputy Secretary General Selfi Zaini, Law Faculty Dean of Andalas University Zainul Daulay, and Chairman of Andalas University PUSaKO Feri Amsari, who also delivered an address. In his address, Feri Amsari expressed his admiration for the students at the Constitution Week, who possess deep constitutional understanding.

At the event, Constitutional Justice Enny Nurbaningsih delivered a public lecture on "The Internalization of Constitutional Values." She said that every component of the nation needs to mobilize efforts to make improve constitutional awareness in Indonesia. According to her, this is not the sole responsibility of the Constitutional Court. On the other hand, the Indonesian nation is faced with literacy issues, which according to her, will hinder the improvement of constitutional awareness. She revealed that Indonesia’s literacy index is very low compared to surrounding countries such as Singapore and Malaysia. In her lecture, she also mentioned judicial review, an authority of the Constitutional Court. She argued that the increasing number of judicial review cases is a message to lawmakers to be more careful in carrying out their responsibilities. At the same time, it reflects the spirit of the nation\'s constitutionalism. "[It is the] spirit related to restriction (of power). We know exactly what is said [in] Leviathan, that ‘power tends to corrupt, absolute power corrupts absolutely’. There is no power that is not vulnerable to abuse," Justice Enny said. 

The Constitution Week XI comprised activities such as Scientific Writing Competition (LKTI), Constitutional Debating Competition, Cerdas Cernat Quiz, and English Speech Contest. The activities were intended for Sumatra high school/equivalent students. In addition, a Writing Contest was held for Teachers of civics (PKn) and social sciences (IPS).

The themes of the activities were factual constitutional issues such as "Recidivists’ Right to Run in General Elections" for this year\'s LKTI. The debating competition presented ten motions, one of which was the "Life Term of Office for Constitutional Justices." The English Speech Contest took the theme "Political Party Reform for the Advancement of Constitutional Democracy in Indonesia". In the LKTI for PKn and IPS teachers the theme was "Authority Transfer for the Implementation of Secondary Education from District/Municipal Government to Provincial Government."