Hubbry Logo
search
logo
1587648

Constitution of Armenia

logo
Community Hub0 Subscribers
Write something...
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
See all
Constitution of Armenia

The Constitution of the Republic of Armenia was adopted by a nationwide Armenian referendum on July 5, 1995. This constitution established Armenia as a democratic, sovereign, social, and constitutional state. Yerevan is defined as the state's capital. Power is vested in its citizens, who exercise it directly through the election of government representatives. Decisions related to changes in constitutional status or to an alteration of borders are subject to a vote of the citizens of Armenia exercised in a referendum. There are 117 articles in the 1995 constitution. On November 27, 2005, a nationwide constitutional referendum was held and an amended constitution was adopted. The constitution was amended again in a national referendum on December 6, 2015 that changed the political structure from a semi-presidential system to a parliamentary republic.

According to the November 2005 Constitution, the president of the Republic appoints the prime minister based on the distribution of the seats in the National Assembly and consultations with the parliamentary factions. The President also appoints (or dismisses from office) the members of the Government upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister.

Immediately after independence, the 1978 constitution, a replica of the Soviet Union's 1977 document,[clarification needed] remained in effect except in cases where specific legislation superseded it. At the end of 1992, the president and the APM parliamentary delegates presented a draft constitution. They put forward a revised version in March 1993. Then, after nearly a year's work, a bloc of six opposition parties led by the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) presented an alternative constitution in January 1994 that would expand the parliament's power, limit that of the president, expand the authority of local government, allow Armenians everywhere to participate in governing the republic, and seek international recognition of the 1915 Genocide. As 1994 began, observers expected a long struggle before parliament adopted a final version.

The Constitution of Armenia consists of a preamble (preface) and 9 chapters. The Preamble sets out the general principles and aims of the constitution (the Armenian people, based on the fundamental principles and national goals of Armenian statehood enshrined in the Declaration of Independence of Armenia, carrying out the sacred aspiration of the restoration of its sovereign state, dedicated to the strengthening of the homeland, prosperity, civic solidarity, affirming adherence to universal values, adopts the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia).[citation needed] The Preamble is also important from a legal point of view in that it refers to the Declaration on Independence of Armenia, adopted on August 23, 1990, thus raising the principles and goals of the Armenian statehood to a constitutional-legal level. This 1990 declaration cites the 1989 unification act by the legislative bodies of the Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic and the Nagorno-Karabakh Autonomous Oblast. It also calls for the recognition of the Armenian genocide.

This chapter defines the nature of the state (sovereign, democratic, social, legal state), the power of the people, the state's restriction on human rights and freedoms, the supreme legal force of the constitution with all other legal acts, its immediate effect, the principle of separation and balance of powers, political, the basics of economic and social systems, the separation of the church from the state, the status of the armed forces, administrative-territorial organization of the state, the official language, state symbols and capital.

The Fundamental human and civil rights and freedom rights, enshrined in accordance with internationally recognized norms. Human and citizen rights and freedom rights are divided into personal, political, citizen and socio-economic rights. This chapter also sets out the specific duties of the individual and citizen, namely the duty of each person to pay taxes in a manner and amount prescribed by law, to make other obligatory payments, to uphold the Constitution and the laws, to respect the rights, freedom, and dignity of others, as well as duty of each citizen to participate in the defense of the Republic of Armenia in the manner prescribed by law.

Defines the status of the president of the Republic, his / her power, the procedure of election and the terms of office, the requirements for a candidate for president. The elections of the president of the Republic, the National Assembly, the local self-government bodies, as well as the referendum, shall be held by universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot.

Defines the status, power, procedure of elections of the legislature, the status of deputies and the procedure of election, and the legislative process.

See all
User Avatar
No comments yet.