Compare Constitution (2003) - Constitution (2004)

Compare Constitution (2003) with Constitution (2004)

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	Constitution (2003)	Constitution (2004)
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 1964 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	a constitution was adopted by popular referendum on 28 November 1998
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
Belarus	30 March 1994; revised by national referendum of 24 November 1996 giving the presidency greatly expanded powers and became effective 27 November 1996	30 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
Bermuda	8 June 1968, amended 1989	8 June 1968, amended 1989 and 2003
Bhutan	no written constitution or bill of rights; note - the King commissioned a committee to draft a constitution in 2001, but has yet to be approved	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
Burkina Faso	2 June 1991 approved by referendum; 11 June 1991 formally adopted	2 June 1991 approved by referendum; 11 June 1991 formally adopted; ammended 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, set ethnic quotas for government positions, and tentatively scheduled elections for February-April 2005
Central African Republic	passed by referendum 29 December 1994; adopted 7 January 1995	passed by referendum 5 December 2004
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	a new constitution was adopted 17 July 2003
Cote d'Ivoire	3 November 1960; has been amended numerous times, last time 27 July 1998	a new constitution was adopted 4 August 2000
Croatia	adopted on 22 December 1990	adopted on 22 December 1990; revised 2000, 2001
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 to 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
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
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 (Maastrict) 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, gives member states two years for ratification either by parliamentary vote or national referendum before it is scheduled to take effect on 1 November 2006
France	28 September 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 1993	28 September 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
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
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)
Iraq	in transition following April 2003 defeat of SADDAM Husayn regime by US-led coalition	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 Transitional Government can draft and ratify a new constitution in 2005
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, 1961, does not embody the unwritten Manx Constitution
Italy	1 January 1948	passed 11 December 1947; effective 1 January 1948; amended many times
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
Macedonia	-	adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991 note: in November of 2001, the Macedonian Assembly approved a series of new constitutional amendments strengthening minority rights
Macedonia, The Former Yugoslav Republic of	adopted 17 November 1991, effective 20 November 1991 note: in November of 2001, the Macedonian Parliament approved a series of new constitutional amendments strengthening minority rights	-
Netherlands	adopted 1814; amended many times, last time 17 February 1983	adopted 1815; amended many times, last time 2002
Niger	the constitution of January 1993 was revised by national referendum on 12 May 1996 and again by referendum on 18 July 1999	a new constitution was adopted 18 July 1999
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, restored on 31 December 2002 note: selected provisions of the Constitution pertaining to changes President MUSHARRAF made while the Constitution was suspended, remain contested by political opponents	10 April 1973, suspended 5 July 1977, restored with amendments 30 December 1985; suspended 15 October 1999, restored 31 December 2002
Panama	11 October 1972; major reforms adopted 1978, 1983 and 1994	11 October 1972; major reforms adopted 1978, 1983, 1994, and 2004
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 30 October 1982, 1 June 1989, 5 November 1992, 3 September 1997, 12 December 2001, and 24 July 2004
Qatar	provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972; in July 1999 Amir HAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent constitution; in the 29 April 2003 referendum, 96.6% of Qatari voters approved the new constitution	provisional constitution enacted 19 April 1972; in July 1999 Amir HAMAD issued a decree forming a committee to draft a permanent constitution; in the 29 April 2003 referendum, 96.6% of Qatari voters approved the new constitution; on 8 June 2004 the new constitution came into force
Romania	8 December 1991	8 December 1991; revision came into force 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	a new constitution was adopted 26 May 2003
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 Transitional National Government formed in August 2000 had a three-year mandate to create a new constitution and hold elections, this goal was not achieved but the process is ongoing
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 adopted 14 November 2003
Switzerland	18 December 1998	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
Zambia	2 August 1991	24 August 1991