This PhD thesis consists of two parts: - a historical analysis of Dutch constitutional thought in general and of the Dutch debate on constitutional reform between 1945 and 1983 in particular, entitled 'Uit het spoor van Thorbecke. Grondwetsherziening en staatsvernieuwing in naoorlogs Nederland, 1945-1983'. This analysis is also published as a separate publication by Boom publishers (Amsterdam 2013). - an edition of documents selected from seventeen committees for constitutional reform that existed in the Netherlands between 1883 and 1983, entitled 'Grondwetscommissies in het spoor van Thorbecke. Honderd jaar debat over de grondwet en over de vertegenwoordiging van de burger 1883-1983'. This document selection centres around two themes: (1) ...