International – Page 5 – The Constitution • Constitution.com

Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela

Title I: Fundamental Principles Article 1: The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is irrevocably free and independent, basing its moral property and values of freedom, equality, justice and international peace on the doctrine of Simón Bolívar, the Liberator. Independence, liberty, sovereignty, immunity, territorial integrity and national self-determination are unrenounceable rights of the Nation. Article 2: Venezuela […]

Constitution of the Republic of Peru

PREAMBLE The Democratic Constituent Congress invoking Almighty God, obeying the mandate of the Peruvian people and remembering the sacrifice of all preceding generations of our land, has resolved to enact the following Constitution: Section I. Concerning the Individual and Society Articles Chapter I Fundamental Rights of the Individual Article 1 The protection of the individual […]

Constitution of the Federative Republic of Brazil

2010 PREAMBLE We, the representatives of the Brazilian People, convened in the National Constituent Assembly to institute a democratic state for the purpose of ensuring the exercise of social and individual rights, liberty, security, well-being, development, equality and justice as supreme values of a fraternal, pluralist and unprejudiced society, founded on social harmony and committed, […]

Constitution of the Argentine Nation

PREAMBLE We, the representatives of the people of the Argentine Nation, gathered in General Constituent Assembly by the will and election of the Provinces which compose it, in fulfillment of pre-existing pacts, in order to form a national union, guarantee justice, secure domestic peace, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and secure […]

Constitution of the Democratic Republic of East Timor

PREAMBLE Following the liberation of the Timorese People from colonisation and illegal occupation of the Maubere Motherland by foreign powers, the independence of East Timor, proclaimed on the 28th of November 1975 by Frente Revolucionária do Timor-Leste Independente (FRETILIN), is recognised internationally on the 20th of May 2002. The preparation and adoption of the Constitution […]

The Medina Charter (Arabia)

622 C.E. In the name of God the Compassionate, the Merciful. (1) This is a document from Muhammad the prophet (governing the relations) between the believers and Muslims of Quraysh and Yathrib, and those who followed them and joined them and labored with them. (2) They are one community (umma) to the exclusion of all […]

Constitution of Belize

21st September, 1981 WHEREAS the People of Belize- a- affirm that the Nation of Belize shall be founded upon principles which acknowledge the supremacy of God, faith in human rights and fundamental freedoms, the position of the family in a society of free men and free institutions, the dignity of the human person and the […]

Constitution of Egypt

Adopted on September 11, 1971 through a public referendum. It was later amended in 1980, 2005 and 2007. Constitutional Proclamation We, the people of Egypt, who have been toiling on this glorious land since the dawn of history and civilization, we the people working in Egypt’s villages, fields, cities, factories, centers of education and industry […]

Constitution of Hong Kong

Decree of the President of the People’s Republic of China The Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China Decree of the President of the People’s Republic of China No. 26 I hereby promulgate the Basic Law of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic […]

Constitution of the People’s Republic of China

Adopted on December 4, 1982 PREAMBLE China is one of the countries with the longest histories in the world. The people of all nationalities in China have jointly created a splendid culture and have a glorious revolutionary tradition. Feudal China was gradually reduced after 1840 to a semi-colonial and semi-feudal country. The Chinese people waged […]

Constitution of the Republic of Honduras – 1982

CONSTITUTION POLICIES OF THE REPUBLIC OF HONDURAS 1982 Includes Reforms in 1982, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991 , 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. Updated through the Decree 36 of May 4 2005 ———————————————— POLICIES CONSTITUTION DECREE NUMBER NO 131 January 11 1982 PREAMBLE Us, deputies elected […]

Constitution of Ireland – BUNREACHT NA hÉIREANN

Enacted by the People 1st July, 1937 In operation as from 29th December, 1937 This text of the Constitution is a copy of the text enrolled on 27 May, 1999 pursuant to Article 25.5.2° except that: the Transitory Provisions (Articles 51-63) are omitted as required by their terms; the Irish text has been altered so […]

Charter of Acadia Granted by Henry IV of France to Pierre du Gast, Sieur de Monts – December 18, 1603

Henry, by the grace of God, King of France and of Navarre: To our well-beloved and faithful advisors the officers of our Admiralty of Normandie, Bretagne, Picardie, and Guienne, and to each one of them in their own right, and in the extent of their powers and jurisdictions, Greetings. We have, for many important reasons, […]

Constitution of Guatemala – 1985

POLITICAL CONSTITUTION of the REPUBLIC OF GUATEMALA Decreed by the NATIONAL CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY May 31, 1985 As Amended By Legislative Decree No. 18-93 of 17 November 1993 INVOKING THE NAME OF GOD, We, the representatives of the people of Guatemala, elected freely and democratically, meeting in the National Constituent Assembly in order to organize the […]

Political Constitution of the United Mexican States – 1917

As Amended through 2009 [NOTE – Mexico has had five constitutions prior to the present one which went into force in 1917. Constitution of Apatzingan – proposed in 1814; Federal Constitution of the United Mexican States – 1824 to 1835 and 1847 to 1857; Seven Constitutional Laws – 1836 to 1843; Federal Constitution of the […]

Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia

An Act to constitute the Commonwealth of Australia [9th July 1900] Whereas the people of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, Queensland, and Tasmania, humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God, have agreed to unite in one indissoluble Federal Commonwealth under the Crown of the United Kingdom of […]

Constitution of Japan – 1946

November 3, 1946 PREFACE We, the Japanese people, acting through our duly elected representatives in the National Diet, determined that we shall secure for ourselves and our posterity the fruits of peaceful cooperation with all nations and the blessings of liberty throughout this land, and resolved that never again shall we be visited with the […]

Constitution of Barbados – 1966

CONSTITUTIONAL ORDER STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS 1966 No. 1455 CARIBBEAN AND NORTH ATLANTIC TERRITORIES THE BARBADOS INDEPENDENCE ORDER 1966 Made 22nd November 1966 Laid before Parliament 22nd November 1966 Coming into Operation 30th November 1966 At the Court at Buckingham Palace, the 22nd day of November 1966 Present, The Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty in Council Her Majesty, […]

The Constitution of Afghanistan – 2003

Year 1382 (2003) (Unofficial Translation – Please refer to official Pashtu and Dari texts for accuracy) In the Name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate Preamble We the people of Afghanistan: 1- With firm faith in God Almighty and relying on His mercy, and Believing in the Sacred religion of Islam, 2- Observing the United […]

Constitution Act of New Zealand – 1986

An Act to reform the constitutional law of New Zealand, to bring together into one enactment certain provisions of constitutional significance, and to provide that the New Zealand Constitution Act 1852 of the Parliament of the United Kingdom shall cease to have effect as part of the law of New Zealand 1 Short Title and […]

Bill of Rights of the United Kingdom – 1689

An Act declareing the Rights and Liberties of the Subject and Setleing the Succession of the Crowne. Whereas the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Comons assembled at Westminster lawfully fully and freely representing all the Estates of the People of this Realme did upon the thirteenth day of February in the yeare of our Lord […]

Constitution of the Republic of South Africa – 1996

[NOTE – The text below includes all amendments, up to and including the 16th Amendment to the Constitution.] Preamble We, the people of South Africa, Recognise the injustices of our past; Honour those who suffered for justice and freedom in our land; Respect those who have worked to build and develop our country; and Believe that […]

Constitution of the Russian Federation

Ratified December 12, 1993 Preamble We, the multinational people of the Russian Federation, united by a common destiny on our land, asserting human rights and liberties, civil peace and accord, preserving the historic unity of the state, proceeding from the commonly recognized principles of equality and self-determination of the peoples honoring the memory of our […]

The Constitution of Kenya – 2010

Respective functions and powers of national and county governments.County governments.PREAMBLE We, the people of Kenya— ACKNOWLEDGING the supremacy of the Almighty God of all creation: HONOURING those who heroically struggled to bring freedom and justice to our land: PROUD of our ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, and determined to live in peace and unity as […]

Constitution of the Republic of Indonesia – 2002

[NOTE – first adopted August 18, 1945 – superseded 1949-1959 – restored 1959, consolidated, as amended by the First Amendment (19 October 1999), the Second Amendment (18 August 2000), the Third Amendment (9 November 2001) and the Fourth Amendment (11 August 2002).] Preamble Whereas independence is a genuine right of all nations and any form of […]

Constitution of Spain

[NOTE – History of Spanish constitutions: 1808–1814 Napoleonic restructuring from royal edict to bicameral parliament (progressive); 1812 La Pepa The first attempt at decentralization or republicanism (progressive); 1814 La Pepa derogated by (conservative) king; 1834 Absolute monarchy (conservative); 1837 Constitutional monarchy (progressive); 1845 Regency empowerment (conservative); 1856 Failed attempt at democracy (progressive); 1869 Another failed […]

Constitution of France – 1958

The Government of the Republic, in accordance with the Constitutional statute of June 3rd 1958, has proposed, The French people have adopted, The President of the Republic hereby promulgates the Constitutional statute worded as follows : PREAMBLE The French people solemnly proclaim their attachment to the Rights of Man and the principles of national sovereignty […]

Constitution Acts of Canada 1867 to 1982

CONSTITUTION ACT, 1867 30 & 31 Victoria, c. 3 (U.K.) An Act for the Union of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick, and the Government thereof; and for Purposes connected therewith (29th March 1867) Whereas the Provinces of Canada, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick have expressed their Desire to be federally united into One Dominion under […]

Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany – 1949

[Note – as updated through 2010.] Preamble Conscious of their responsibility before God and man, Inspired by the determination to promote world peace as an equal partner in a united Europe, the German people, in the exercise of their constituent power, have adopted this Basic Law. Germans in the Länder of Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, […]

Constitution of India

Constitution is a living document, an instrument which makes the government system work. Its flexibility lies in its amendments. In this edition, the text of the Constitution of India has been brought up-to-date by incorporating therein all amendments made by Parliament up to and including the Constitution (Ninety-fourth Amendment) Act, 2006. The footnotes below the […]