Compare Constitution (2002) - Constitution (2005)

Compare Constitution (2002) with Constitution (2005)

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	Constitution (2002)	Constitution (2005)
Afghanistan	the Bonn Agreement called for a Loya Jirga (Grand Council) to be convened within 18 months of the establishment of the Transitional Authority to draft a new constitution for the country; the basis for the next constitution is the 1963/64 Constitution, according to the Bonn Agreement	new constitution drafted 14 December 2003 - 4 January 2004; signed 16 January 2004
Albania	a constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998; note - the opposition Democratic Party boycotted the vote	adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998
American Samoa	ratified 1966, in effect 1967	ratified 2 June 1966, effective 1 July 1967
Andorra	Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991; approved by referendum 14 March 1993; came into force 4 May 1993	Andorra's first written constitution was drafted in 1991, approved by referendum 14 March 1993, effective 4 May 1993
Angola	11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992	11 November 1975; revised 7 January 1978, 11 August 1980, 6 March 1991, and 26 August 1992; note - new constitution has not yet been approved
Bahrain	adopted late December 2000; Bahrani voters approved on 13-14 February 2001 a referendum on legislative changes (revised constitution calls for a partially elected legislature, a constitutional monarchy, and an independent judiciary)	new constitution 14 February 2002
Bangladesh	4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972, suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986, amended many times	4 November 1972, effective 16 December 1972; suspended following coup of 24 March 1982, restored 10 November 1986; amended many times
Belarus	30 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24 November 1996 giving the presidency greatly expanded powers and became effective 27 November 1996	15 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24 November 1996 giving the presidency greatly expanded powers and became effective 27 November 1996; revised again 17 October 2004 removing presidential term limits
Belgium	7 February 1831, last revised 14 July 1993; parliament approved a constitutional package creating a federal state	7 February 1831; amended many times; revised 14 July 1993 to create a federal state
Bermuda	8 June 1968, amended 1989	8 June 1968; amended 1989 and 2003
Bhutan	no written constitution or bill of rights; note - Bhutan uses 1953 Royal decree for the Constitution of the National Assembly; on 7 July 1998, a Royal edict was ratified giving the National Assembly additional powers	no written constitution or bill of rights; note - in 2001 the King commissioned the drafting of a constitution, and in November 2004 presented a draft to the Council of Ministers; now awaiting referendum
Burkina Faso	2 June 1991 approved by referendum; 11 June 1991 formally adopted	2 June 1991 approved by referendum, 11 June 1991 formally adopted; amended April 2000
Burma	3 January 1974 (suspended since 18 September 1988); national convention started on 9 January 1993 to draft a new constitution; progress has since been stalled	3 January 1974; suspended since 18 September 1988; national convention convened in 1993 to draft a new constitution but collapsed in 1996; reconvened in 2004 but does not include participation of democratic opposition
Burundi	13 March 1992; provided for establishment of a plural political system; supplanted on 6 June 1998 by a Transitional Constitution which enlarged the National Assembly and created two vice presidents	13 March 1992; provided for establishment of a plural political system; supplanted on 20 October 2004 by a provisional constitution approved by the parliament which extended the transition; a 28 February 2005 popular referendum ratified the new constitution which set ethnic quotas for government positions, and tentatively scheduled general elections for April 2005
Cameroon	20 May 1972 approved by referendum; 2 June 1972 formally adopted; revised January 1996	20 May 1972 approved by referendum, 2 June 1972 formally adopted; revised January 1996
Canada	17 April 1982 (Constitution Act); originally, the machinery of the government was set up in the British North America Act of 1867; charter of rights and unwritten customs	made up of unwritten and written acts, customs, judicial decisions, and traditions; the written part of the constitution consists of the Constitution Act of 29 March 1867, which created a federation of four provinces, and the Constitution Act of 17 April 1982, which transferred formal control over the constitution from Britain to Canada, and added a Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms as well as procedures for constitutional amendments
Cayman Islands	1959, revised 1972 and 1992	1959; revised 1972 and 1992
Central African Republic	passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7 January 1995	passed by referendum 5 December 2004
Chile	11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981, amended 30 July 1989, 1993, and 1997	11 September 1980, effective 11 March 1981; amended 30 July 1989, 1993, and 1997
Christmas Island	NA	Christmas Island Act of 1958-59 (1 October 1958)
Cocos (Keeling) Islands	Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955	Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act of 1955 (23 November 1953)
Comoros	23 December 2001 note: a Transitional National Unity Government (GUNT) was formed on 20 January 2002 following the passing of the new constitution; the GUNT governed until the presidential elections on 14 April 2002	23 December 2001
Congo, Democratic Republic of the	24 June 1967, amended August 1974, revised 15 February 1978, amended April 1990; transitional constitution promulgated in April 1994; in November 1998, a draft constitution was approved by former President Laurent KABILA but it was not ratified by a national referendum; one outcome of the ongoing inter-Congolese dialogue is to be a new constitution	new constitution adopted 17 July 2003
Congo, Republic of the	constitution approved by referendum in January 2002	approved by referendum 20 January 2002
Cote d'Ivoire	3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time 27 July 1998	new constitution adopted 4 August 2000
Croatia	adopted on 22 December 1990	adopted on 22 December 1990; revised 2000, 2001
Cuba	24 February 1976, amended July 1992	24 February 1976; amended July 1992 and June 2002
Cyprus	16 August 1960; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and to better relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently; in 1975 Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which was renamed the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" in 1983; a new constitution for the Turkish Cypriot area passed by referendum on 5 May 1985	16 August 1960; from December 1963, the Turkish Cypriots no longer participated in the government; negotiations to create the basis for a new or revised constitution to govern the island and for better relations between Greek and Turkish Cypriots have been held intermittently since the mid-1960s; in 1975, following the 1974 Turkish intervention, Turkish Cypriots created their own constitution and governing bodies within the "Turkish Federated State of Cyprus," which became the "Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus" when the Turkish Cypriots declared their independence in 1983; a new constitution for the "TRNC" passed by referendum on 5 May 1985
Czech Republic	ratified 16 December 1992; effective 1 January 1993	ratified 16 December 1992, effective 1 January 1993
Denmark	1849 was the original constitution; there was a major overhaul 5 June 1953, allowing for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state	5 June 1849 adoption of original constitution; a major overhaul of 5 June 1953 allowed for a unicameral legislature and a female chief of state
Dominican Republic	28 November 1966	28 November 1966; amended 25 July 2002
Egypt	11 September 1971	11 September 1971; amended 22 May 1980
Eritrea	the transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May 1993, was replaced by a new constitution adopted on 23 May 1997, but not yet implemented	a transitional constitution, decreed on 19 May 1993, was replaced by a new constitution adopted on 23 May 1997, but not yet implemented
Ethiopia	ratified December 1994; effective 22 August 1995	ratified December 1994, effective 22 August 1995
European Union	-	based on a series of treaties: the Treaty of Paris, which set up the European Coal and Steel Community (ECSC) in 1951; the Treaties of Rome, which set up the European Economic Community (EEC) and the European Atomic Energy Community (Euratom) in 1957; the Single European Act in 1986; the Treaty on European Union (Maastricht) in 1992; the Treaty of Amsterdam in 1997; and the Treaty of Nice in 2001; note - a new draft Constitutional Treaty, signed on 29 October 2004 in Rome, gave member states two years for ratification either by parliamentary vote or national referendum before it was scheduled to take effect on 1 November 2006; defeat in French and Dutch referenda in May-June 2005 caused a suspension of the ratification process
Fiji	promulgated on 25 July 1990 and amended on 25 July 1997 to allow nonethnic Fijians greater say in government and to make multiparty government mandatory; entered into force 28 July 1998; note - the May 1999 election was the first test of the amended constitution and introduced open voting - not racially prescribed - for the first time at the national level	promulgated on 25 July 1990; amended on 25 July 1997 to allow nonethnic Fijians greater say in government and to make multiparty government mandatory; effective 28 July 1998
Finland	17 July 1919	1 March 2000
France	28 September 1958, amended concerning election of president in 1962, amended to comply with provisions of EC Maastricht Treaty in 1992, Amsterdam Treaty in 1996, Treaty of Nice in 2000; amended to tighten immigration laws 1993	adopted by referendum 28 September 1958, effective 4 October 1958; amended concerning election of president in 1962; amended to comply with provisions of 1992 EC Maastricht Treaty, 1996 Amsterdam Treaty, 2000 Treaty of Nice; amended to tighten immigration laws in 1993; amended in 2000 to change the seven-year presidential term to a five-year term
French Guiana	28 September 1958 (French Constitution)	4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
French Polynesia	28 September 1958 (French Constitution)	4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Gambia, The	24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished in January 1997	24 April 1970; suspended July 1994; rewritten and approved by national referendum 8 August 1996; reestablished January 1997
Georgia	adopted 17 October 1995	adopted 24 August 1995
Ghana	new constitution approved 28 April 1992	approved 28 April 1992
Guadeloupe	28 September 1958 (French Constitution)	4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Guinea-Bissau	16 May 1984, amended 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991, 26 February 1993, 9 June 1993, and 1996	16 May 1984; amended 4 May 1991, 4 December 1991, 26 February 1993, 9 June 1993, and 1996
Haiti	approved March 1987; suspended June 1988, with most articles reinstated March 1989; in October 1991, government claimed to be observing the constitution; return to constitutional rule, October 1994	approved March 1987; suspended June 1988 with most articles reinstated March 1989; in October 1991 government claimed to be observing the constitution; returned to constitutional rule in October 1994
Holy See (Vatican City)	Apostolic Constitution of 1967 (effective 1 March 1968)	new Fundamental Law promulgated by Pope JOHN PAUL II on 26 November 2000, effective 22 February 2001 (replaces the first Fundamental Law of 1929)
Hong Kong	Basic Law approved in March 1990 by China's National People's Congress is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution"	Basic Law, approved in March 1990 by China's National People's Congress, is Hong Kong's "mini-constitution"
Hungary	18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949, revised 19 April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister and also established the principle of parliamentary oversight; 1997 amendment streamlined the judicial system	18 August 1949, effective 20 August 1949; revised 19 April 1972; 18 October 1989 revision ensured legal rights for individuals and constitutional checks on the authority of the prime minister and also established the principle of parliamentary oversight; 1997 amendment streamlined the judicial system
Iceland	16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944	16 June 1944, effective 17 June 1944; amended many times
India	26 January 1950	26 January 1950; amended many times
Indonesia	August 1945, abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949 and Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959	August 1945; abrogated by Federal Constitution of 1949 and Provisional Constitution of 1950, restored 5 July 1959
Iraq	22 September 1968, effective 16 July 1970 (provisional constitution); new constitution drafted in 1990 but not adopted	interim constitution signed 8 March 2004; note - the Transitional Administrative Law (TAL) was enacted 8 March 2004 to govern the country until an elected Iraqi Government can draft and ratify a new constitution in 2005
Ireland	29 December 1937; adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite	adopted 1 July 1937 by plebiscite; effective 29 December 1937
Isle of Man	unwritten; note - The Isle of Man Constitution Act, 1961, does not embody the Manx Constitution	unwritten; note - The Isle of Man Constitution Act of 1961 does not embody the unwritten Manx Constitution
Italy	1 January 1948	passed 11 December 1947, effective 1 January 1948; amended many times
Jordan	8 January 1952	1 January 1952; amended 1974, 1976, 1984
Kazakhstan	adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995; first post-independence constitution was adopted 28 January 1993	first post-independence constitution adopted 28 January 1993; new constitution adopted by national referendum 30 August 1995
Kenya	12 December 1963, amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1983, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1997, and 2001	12 December 1963; amended as a republic 1964; reissued with amendments 1979, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992, 1997, and 2001
Korea, North	adopted 1948, completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992 and September 1998	adopted 1948; completely revised 27 December 1972, revised again in April 1992, and September 1998
Korea, South	25 February 1948	17 July 1948
Kyrgyzstan	adopted 5 May 1993; note - amendment proposed by President AKAYEV and passed in a national referendum on 10 February 1996 significantly expands the powers of the president at the expense of the legislature	adopted 5 May 1993; note - amendment proposed by President AKAYEV and passed in a national referendum on 2 February 2003 significantly expands the powers of the president at the expense of the legislature
Latvia	the 1991 Constitutional Law which supplements the 1922 constitution, provides for basic rights and freedoms	15 February 1922; an October 1998 amendment on Fundamental Human Rights replaced the 1991 Constitutional Law, which had supplemented the constitution
Lebanon	23 May 1926, amended a number of times, most recently Charter of Lebanese National Reconciliation (Ta'if Accord) of October 1989	23 May 1926; amended a number of times, most recently Charter of Lebanese National Reconciliation (Ta'if Accord) of October 1989
Libya	11 December 1969, amended 2 March 1977	11 December 1969; amended 2 March 1977
Luxembourg	17 October 1868, occasional revisions	17 October 1868; occasional revisions
Macedonia	-	adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991; amended November 2001 by a series of new constitutional amendments strengthening minority rights
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of	adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991 note: the Macedonian Parliament approved November 2001 a series of new constitutional amendments, strengthening minority rights	-
Malaysia	31 August 1957, amended 16 September 1963	31 August 1957; amended 16 September 1963
Maldives	adopted January 1998	adopted 1 January 1998
Malta	1964 constitution substantially amended on 13 December 1974 and again in 1987	1964 constitution; amended many times
Martinique	28 September 1958 (French Constitution)	4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Mayotte	28 September 1958 (French Constitution)	4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Moldova	new constitution adopted 28 July 1994; replaces old Soviet constitution of 1979	new constitution adopted 29 July 1994, effective 27 August 1994; replaced old Soviet constitution of 1979
Montserrat	present constitution came into force 19 December 1989	effective 19 December 1989
Morocco	10 March 1972, revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create bicameral legislature) September 1996	10 March 1972; revised 4 September 1992, amended (to create bicameral legislature) September 1996
Namibia	ratified 9 February 1990; effective 12 March 1990	ratified 9 February 1990, effective 12 March 1990
Nauru	29 January 1968	29 January 1968; amended 17 May 1968 (Constitution Day)
Netherlands	adopted 1814; amended many times, last time 17 February 1983	adopted 1815; amended many times, last time 2002
New Caledonia	28 September 1958 (French Constitution)	4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
New Zealand	consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments and The Constitution Act 1986 which is the principal formal charter	consists of a series of legal documents, including certain acts of the UK and New Zealand Parliaments, as well as The Constitution Act 1986, which is the principal formal charter; adopted 1 January 1987, effective 1 January 1987
Nicaragua	9 January 1987, with reforms in 1995 and 2000	9 January 1987; reforms in 1995 and 2000
Niger	the constitution of January 1993 was revised by national referendum on 12 May 1996 and again by referendum on 18 July 1999	new constitution adopted 18 July 1999
Northern Mariana Islands	Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986 and the Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978	Constitution of the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands effective 1 January 1978; Covenant Agreement effective 4 November 1986
Norway	17 May 1814, modified in 1884	17 May 1814; amended many times
Oman	none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a new basic law which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens	none; note - on 6 November 1996, Sultan QABOOS issued a royal decree promulgating a basic law considered by the government to be a constitution which, among other things, clarifies the royal succession, provides for a prime minister, bars ministers from holding interests in companies doing business with the government, establishes a bicameral legislature, and guarantees basic civil liberties for Omani citizens
Pakistan	10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments 30 December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999	12 April 1973; suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments 30 December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999, restored 31 December 2002; amended 31 December 2003
Panama	11 October 1972; major reforms adopted 1978, 1983 and 1994	11 October 1972; major reforms adopted 1978, 1983, 1994, and 2004
Pitcairn Islands	1838; reformed 1904 with additional reforms in 1940; further refined by the Local Government Ordinance of 1964	30 November 1838; reformed 1904 with additional reforms in 1940; further refined by the Local Government Ordinance of 1964
Poland	16 October 1997; adopted by the National Assembly 2 April 1997; passed by national referendum 23 May 1997	adopted by the National Assembly 2 April 1997, passed by national referendum 25 May 1997, effective 17 October 1997
Portugal	25 April 1976, revised 30 October 1982, 1 June 1989, 5 November 1992, and 3 September 1997	25 April 1976; revised many times
Puerto Rico	ratified 3 March 1952; approved by US Congress 3 July 1952; effective 25 July 1952	ratified 3 March 1952, approved by US Congress 3 July 1952, effective 25 July 1952
Qatar	provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972; in July 1999 Amir HAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent constitution	ratified by public referendum on 29 April 2003, endorsed by the Emir on 8 June 2004, effective on 9 June 2005
Reunion	28 September 1958 (French Constitution)	4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Romania	8 December 1991	8 December 1991; revision effective 29 October 2003
Rwanda	on 5 May 1995, the Transitional National Assembly adopted as Fundamental Law the constitution of 18 June 1991, provisions of the 1993 Arusha peace accord, the July 1994 Declaration by the Rwanda Patriotic Front, and the November 1994 multiparty protocol of understanding	new constitution adopted 4 June 2003
Saint Pierre and Miquelon	28 September 1958 (French Constitution)	4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Sao Tome and Principe	approved March 1990; effective 10 September 1990	approved March 1990, effective 10 September 1990
Senegal	a new constitution was adopted 7 January 2001	new constitution adopted 7 January 2001
Serbia and Montenegro	27 April 1992	4 February 2003
Singapore	3 June 1959, amended 1965 (based on preindependence State of Singapore Constitution)	3 June 1959; amended 1965 (based on preindependence State of Singapore Constitution)
Slovakia	ratified 1 September 1992, fully effective 1 January 1993; changed in September 1998 to allow direct election of the president; amended February 2001 to allow Slovakia to apply for NATO and EU membership	ratified 1 September 1992, effective 1 January 1993; changed in September 1998 to allow direct election of the president; amended February 2001 to allow Slovakia to apply for NATO and EU membership
Somalia	25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979 note: the Transitional National Government formed in August 2000 has a mandate to create a new constitution and hold elections within three years	25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979 note: the formation of transitional governing institutions, known as the Transitional Federal Government, is currently ongoing
South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands	adopted 3 October 1985	-
Sri Lanka	adopted 16 August 1978	adopted 16 August 1978, certified 31 August 1978; new constitution proposed in 2002
Sudan	12 April 1973, suspended following coup of 6 April 1985; interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30 June 1989; new constitution implemented on 30 June 1998 partially suspended 12 December 1999 by President BASHIR	12 April 1973; suspended following coup of 6 April 1985; interim constitution of 10 October 1985 suspended following coup of 30 June 1989; new constitution implemented on 30 June 1998 partially suspended 12 December 1999 by President BASHIR
Swaziland	none; constitution of 6 September 1968 was suspended 12 April 1973; a new constitution was promulgated 13 October 1978, but was not formally presented to the people; since then a few more outlines for a constitution have been compiled under the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC), but so far none have been accepted	a constitution was due to be adopted in November 2003 but was delayed and scheduled for early 2005
Switzerland	29 May 1874	revision of Constitution of 1874 approved by the Federal Parliament 18 December 1998, adopted by referendum 18 April 1999, officially entered into force 1 January 2000
Taiwan	1 January 1947, amended in 1992, 1994, 1997, and 1999	25 December 1946; amended in 1992, 1994, 1997, 1999, and 2000
Togo	multiparty draft constitution approved by High Council of the Republic 1 July 1992; adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992	multiparty draft constitution approved by High Council of the Republic 1 July 1992, adopted by public referendum 27 September 1992
Tokelau	administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948, as amended in 1970	administered under the Tokelau Islands Act of 1948; amended in 1970
Tonga	4 November 1875, revised 1 January 1967	4 November 1875; revised 1 January 1967
Tunisia	1 June 1959; amended 12 July 1988	1 June 1959; amended 1988, 2002
Uganda	8 October 1995; adopted by the interim, 284-member Constituent Assembly, charged with debating the draft constitution that had been proposed in May 1993; the Constituent Assembly was dissolved upon the promulgation of the constitution in October 1995	8 October 1995
Uruguay	27 November 1966, effective February 1967, suspended 27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980; two constitutional reforms approved by plebiscite 26 November 1989 and 7 January 1997	27 November 1966, effective February 1967; suspended 27 June 1973, new constitution rejected by referendum 30 November 1980; two constitutional reforms approved by plebiscite 26 November 1989 and 7 January 1997
Wallis and Futuna	28 September 1958 (French Constitution)	4 October 1958 (French Constitution)
Zambia	2 August 1991	24 August 1991