Bernard Lewis and James Woolsey point out that Iraq already has a constitution, which was adopted in 1925 and acknowledges

. . . that the nation's sovereignty "resides in the people"--provides for an elected lower house of parliament, which has a major role in approving constitutional amendments. It also contains a section on "The Rights of the People" that declares Islam as the official religion, but also provides for freedom of worship for all Islamic sects and indeed for all religions and for "complete freedom of conscience." It further guarantees "freedom of expression of opinion, liberty of publication, of meeting together, and of forming and joining associations." In different words, the essence of much of our own Bill of Rights is reflected therein.

This constitution establishes a constitutional monarchy under a Hashemite dynasty, but the article states some reasons why this system could ease the path to restoring a government.