The ANCL is an association of judges, lawyers, academics, activists, NGOs, research or academic institutes and bar associations that are interested in constitutional law and the development of constitutionalism in African countries. An affiliate of the International Association of Constitutional Law (IACL), the ANCL was first established in 1997 and, after a period of inactivity, re-launched in April 2007 in Nairobi.
The ANCL is run by the Executive Committee, which is elected every four years with the mandate to making policy decisions for the ANCL. It consists of 15 members from various African countries. Its Secretariat, which is responsible for the day-to-day implementation of the activities of the ANCL, is based at the University of Cape Town in the Public Law Department.