A Product of William S. Hein & Co., Inc.
Search
Close this search box.

HeinOnline’s World Constitutions Illustrated: May 2021 Update

11 MIN READ

Back in January, we updated researchers on the content that was released in the World Constitutions Illustrated database from October to December 2020. Read below to find out what new documents have been added to this ever-growing database.

Updates from January 2021 to Date

Since our last content news update, we have updated 49 countries and added 211 new titles to the World Constitutions Illustrated database.

We will continue to provide constitutional content news right here on the HeinOnline Blog. Be sure to subscribe to receive notifications when new posts are published.


Albania

We have added the English version of the consolidated text of 2020 from the Venice Commission.

Flag of Albania


Algeria

The Constitution of 1989, as revised in 1996 and 2016, was further amended at the Referendum of November 1, 2020. We have added the text which was promulgated in the Journal Officiel on December 30, 2020. We include the draft and final texts in both Arabic and French, and have updated our current consolidated translation correspondingly.

Flag of Algeria

Australia

We have added two additional versions of the consolidated text, as amended to 1977. These include a 2010 printed version from the Parliament and a 2012 edition from the Federal Register of Legislation. Both English versions include an overview and notes section. This adds current reprints to Australia’s collection of consolidated texts.

Flag of Australia

Austria

The Federal Constitutional Law was further amended by Act 2/2021 of January 5, 2021. We have included the official German text from the Bundesgestzblatt. The amendment makes certain editorial corrections and also concerns the date of entry into force of certain provisions. The Federal Chancellery has also updated the German/English diglot text of the Federal Constitutional Act of July 3, 1997 concerning the Limitation of Remuneration of Public Functionaries, which is now as amended to 2017.

Flag of Austria

Belgium

The Constitution of 1994 was further amended by the Revision of March 17, 2021, which inserts Article 22ter in Title II of the Constitution. The law guarantees that every individual with a disability has the right to full inclusion in society, including the right to reasonable accommodation. We have added the text of the amending law from the Official Gazette. We have also included the current consolidated text, as amended to 2021, from the House of the Representatives in the following languages: English, Dutch, French, and German.

Flag of Belgium

Botswana

The Constitution of 1966 was further amended by Act No. 1 of 2021, amending Section 68 of the Constitution of Botswana. We have included the English text of the amending law from the Government. The amendment adds a new subsection concerning vacant seats in the National Assembly.

Flag of Botswana

Brazil

The Constitution of 1988 was further amended by Constitutional Amendment No. 109 of March 15, 2021. The amendment concerns the granting of residual emergency aid to individuals due to the social and economic consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have included the Portuguese text from the Diario Oficial, and the other three official sources we routinely consult for Brazilian legislation. We also include the current consolidated text, as amended to 2021, from three official sources.

In addition, we have added the 5th print edition of the Constitution of 1988, as amended to 2016, from the Chamber of Deputies. This is currently the latest print edition available in English and published by the Chamber of Deputies.

Flag of Brazil

Canada

We now include the current consolidated text of The Constitution Acts, 1867 to 1982 as amended to 2011. The Department of Justice published a new version in English and French, which is consolidated as of January 1, 2021. This is the most recent published version available through the Department of Justice.

Flag of Canada

Chile

The Constitution of 1980 as codified in 2005 was further amended by the following:

  • Law No. 21.298 of December 21, 2020, inserting the Forty-fourth through Forty-seventh Transitory Provisions.
  • Law No. 21.315 of March 4, 2021 and Law No. 21.317 of March 14, 2021. Law No. 21.315 concerns electoral propaganda, and Law No. 317 extends the next municipal, regional governor, and conventional constituent election to two days.
  • Law No. 21.318 of March 26, 2021 and Law No. 21.324 of April 6, 2021.

We have include the text of the amending law from the Library of the National Congress and from the Diario Oficial, and the current consolidated text of the Library of National Congress. We have updated our own current translation correspondingly.

Flag of Chile

Egypt

The State Information Service of Egypt has produced a new current consolidated text of the Constitution of 2014 as amended to 2019. We have added this in the following languages: Arabic, English, and French.

Flag of Egypt

Estonia

We have added the official English translation of the Constitution of 1992 which has been revised and reissued as a publication of the Official Gazette, the Riigi Teataja.

Flag of Estonia

Gabon

The Constitution of 1991 (the 3rd Republic) was amended on December 30, 2020. Immediately prior to the debates on the amendments in Parliament, a consolidated text of the Constitution as amended to Law No. 001/2018 was published in the Journal Officiel on December 22, 2020. We have included this text, and have updated our translation to correspond exactly with that official text.

Additionally, the Constitution of 1991 was further amended by Decision No. 46/2020 of December 29, 2020. We have included the French text of the amending law from the Presidency. We have also updated our own current translation correspondingly.

Flag of Gabon

Greece

We have included a current consolidated text of the Constitution of 1975, as amended to 2019, in Greek from the Hellenic Parliament.

Flag of Greece

Grenada

The Constitution of 1973 was further amended by the Constitution of Grenada (Restructuring) (Amendment) of 2016. We have now added the text of the amending law from the Government Gazette.

Flag of Grenada

Haiti

The French text of the preliminary draft Constitution, published in January 2021, is now available. We have added the draft of the Constitution, which was created by the Independent Advisory Committee (ICC). Haiti is currently undergoing constitutional changes.

Flag of Haiti

Honduras

The Constitution of 1982 was further amended by Decree No. 192-2020 as ratified by Decree No. 3-2021. We have included the Spanish text of the amending laws from La Gaceta. We have also updated our own current translation correspondingly.

Flag of Honduras

Hungary

The Constitution of 2011/2012 was amended for the ninth time on December 22, 2020. We have included the text of the amending law and the consolidated text from the Magyar Közlöny, the consolidated text of the Parliament, and the English and German translations of the Ministry of Justice. We have also added the French translation of the Ministry of Justice to 2019.

Flag of Hungary

Iceland

We have added the Icelandic text of the following amending laws from the Althing [National Parliament of Iceland]:

  • Act No. 77 of 1999
  • Act No. 100 of 1995
  • Act No. 97 of 1995
  • Act No. 56 of 1991

We have also included the Icelandic text of the amending law Act No. 91 of 2013 from the Government Gazette, and an original text of the Constitution in Icelandic from the Althing.

Flag of Iceland

Italy

We have added the English text of Constitutional Law No. 1 of October 19, 2020, amending Articles 56, 57, and 59 of the Constitution of the Italian Republic, 1947. The text is provided as an update by the Constitutional Court of Italy. We have included the current consolidated text in English from the Parliament. Additionally, we have added texts of the amending law Constitutional Law No. 1 of October 19, 2020, provided by the Senate of the Republic, in the following languages: French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Romanian, Chinese, Japanese, and Arabic.

Flag of Italy

Jordan

We have added to Jordan’s collection of Amending Laws, all of which amend the Constitution of 1952. The following amending laws have been included in Arabic from the Official Gazette:

  • Amendments of 5 May 2016
  • Amendments of 9 January 1984
  • Amendments of 7 February 1976
  • Amendments of 10 November 1974
  • Amendments of 8 April 1973
  • Amendments of 1 April 1965
  • Amendments of 16 February 1960
  • Amendments of 1 September 1958
  • Amendments of 4 May 1958
  • Amendments of 16 October 1955
  • Amendments of 17 April 1954
Flag of Jordan

Korea, Democratic People’s Republic of (North)

We have added an additional copy of the consolidated text, as amended to 2016, to the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea. The English text is published as a book by the Foreign Languages Publishing House. This copy of the text provides a list of the amending laws in the front matter.

Flag of North Korea

Liberia

We have added the text of the Constitution of 1984/1986 as amended by the Referendum of August 23, 2011 as made available by the Judiciary of Liberia. A text consolidated to the amendments adopted at the Referendum of December 8, 2020 has yet to be made available.

Flag of Liberia

Liechtenstein

The Constitution of 1921 is further amended by the Constitutional Law of September 30, 2020. We have included the German text of the amending law from the State Law Journal. We also include the consolidated text of 2020, which entered into force February 1, 2021, in both German and English from the Government of Liechtenstein.

Flag of Liechtenstein

Malaysia

The Commission of Law Revision has provided a new Reprint of the Constitution of 1963, as of October 15, 2020. This is the first reprint in a decade.

Flag of Malaysia

Malta

The Constitution of 1964 was further amended by Act No. XII of 2021, which amends various laws for the purpose of reforming the procedure for the making of various appointments, and Act XX of 2021, which ensures de facto equality between men and women in politics. For both, we have included the English and Maltese text of the amending laws from the Government Gazette.

Flag of Malta

Mexico

We have added the Spanish text for following amendments to the Constitution of 1917 from the Diario Oficial:

  • Decree of December 24, 2020
  • Decree of February 19, 2021 which was promulgated on February 17, 2021
  • Decree of March 11, 2021 which was promulgated on March 10, 2021

In addition, we have added the current consolidated texts of the Chamber of Deputies, the Electoral Tribunal, and the National Juridical Order. We have also updated our current consolidated translation correspondingly.

Flag of Mexico

Mongolia

We have added the English version of the consolidated text of 2019 from the Venice Commission.

Flag of Mongolia

Myanmar (Burma)

We have added the text of the Law Amending the Constitution of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar for the second time, March 26, 2020. We include the Burmese text of the amending law from the Parliament.

Flag of Myanmar

Nepal

We have added the English translation of the Constitution of 2072 [corresponding to 2015] as amended by the second amendment of June 18, 2020, as provided by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.

Flag of Nepal

New Zealand

We have added 14 new reprints to the law concerning constitutional matters in New Zealand. These include the following:

  • Public Service Act, 2020
  • Privacy Act, 2020
  • Criminal Cases Review Act, 2019
  • Intelligence and Security Act, 2017
  • District Court Act, 2016
  • Senior Courts Act, 2016
  • Local Government Act, 2002
  • Local Electoral Act, 2001
  • Official Information Act, 1982
  • Citizenship Act, 1977
  • Public Audit Act, 2001
  • Ombudsmen Act, 1975
  • Public Finance Act, 1989
  • Crown Entities Act, 2004
Flag of New Zealand

Nicaragua

The Constitution of 1986/87 was further amended by Law No. 1057 of 2021, amending Article 37 of the Political Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua. We have included the Spanish text of the amending law from La Gaceta. We have also updated our current translations of the Constitution of Nicaragua of 1986/1987 to reflect the amendment of Art. 37 made by Law No. 1057 of January 28, 2021.

Flag of Nicaragua

Oman

The Basic Statute of the State was revised and promulgated by Royal Decree No. 6/2020 of January 11, 2021. We have added the Arabic text of the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs. The English translation of the Ministry has yet to be made available.

Flag of Oman

Peru

The Constitution of 1993 has been further amended by the following:

  • Law No. 31097 of December 22, 2020, concerning funding of the educational system.
  • Law No. 31118 of February 4, 2021, eliminating the judicial immunity of parliamentarians
  • Law No. 31122 of February 8, 2021, enabling double employment in public office in cases of health emergencies.

We have included the text of the amending laws from El Peruano as well as its consolidated text. In addition, we have added our own current translation, which has been completely revised.

Flag of Peru

Qatar

We have added additional consolidated texts of the Permanent Constitution of the State of Qatar, 2004 from Al Meezan [the Qatar Legal Portal]. These texts are provided in Arabic and English.

Flag of Qatar

Russian Federation

We have added the Constitutional Court French and German translations of the Constitution of 1993 as amended on July 1, 2020.

Flag of Russia

Saint Kitts and Nevis

The Constitution of the 1983 has not been amended. We have added the original text as now made available by the Law Commission, and also the text as originally published in 1983 by HMSO.

Flag of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Saint Lucia

The Government has now provided a text of the Constitution of 1978 as amended by Act 17 of 1980. We have also added the text as originally published in 1978 by HMSO.

Flag of Saint Lucia

Samoa

The Constitution of 1960 was further amended by Act No. 22 of January 5, 2021. We have added the text of the amending law in English and in Samoan.

Flag of Samoa

Singapore

Act No. 38 of 2019, which received assent on December 5, 2019, entered into force on January 2, 2021. We have added the consolidated text of the Constitution of 1963 of the Law Revision Commission which now reflects these amendments. We have also included the text of the Act from the Government Gazette.

Flag of Singapore

Slovak Republic

The Constitution of 1992 was further amended by Constitutional Law No. 422/2020 of December 9, 2020. We have added the Slovak text of the amending law from the Ministry of Justice/Collection of Laws. A portion of the amending articles for the Constitutional Act (2020) entered into force on January 1, 2021 while other articles will enter into force on January 1, 2023 and January 1, 2025. We have included three versions of the consolidated text of 2020, to include the different in force dates, as follows:

  • As Amended to 2020 [Enters into force January 1, 2025]
  • As Amended to 2020 [Enters into force January 1, 2023]
  • As Amended to 2020 [Enters into force January 1, 2021].

Additionally, we have added an English version of the consolidated text, as amended to 2019, from the Venice Commission.

Flag of Slovakia

Sri Lanka

The Parliament of Sri Lanka has produced a new current consolidated text of the Constitution of 1978 as amended to 2020. We have included this in the following languages: Tamil, Sinhala, and English.

Flag of Sri Lanka

Sweden

The collection of fundamental laws in Sweden has been updated to include texts of amending laws, which were adopted in 2018, from the Regeringskansliet [Government Offices]. These include the Swedish texts of the following amending laws:

  • SFS 2018:1903 to the Instrument of Government, 1974
  • SFS 2018:1801 to the Freedom of the Press Act, 1949
  • SFS 2018:1802 to the Fundamental Law on Freedom of Expression, 1991.

We also added the Swedish consolidated text of The Riksdag Act of 2014, as amended to 2020, and an updated tabulation of amending laws to include SFS 2020:770.

Flag of Sweden

Switzerland

We have added the amendments to the Constitution of 1999/2000, adopted at the Referendum of March 4, 2018 entered into force on December 31, 2020. The official texts of the Federal Council in English, French, German, and Italian have been updated correspondingly.

Additionally, the Constitution of 1999/2000 was further amended by an initiative banning full-face coverings in Switzerland. We have added the text of the amending law, which was adopted at the Referendum of March 7, 2021, from the Federal Gazette. We have included the document in French, Italian and German. We also include the amending law, in both the introductory and Bill stages, from the Federal Gazette. These documents are also included in French, Italian, and German.

Flag of Switzerland

Togo

We have added the French text of Law No. 2019-003 of May 15, 2019 from the National Assembly. We have also included the latest consolidated text, as amended to 2019, in French from the National Assembly. Both the English and French versions are now available.

Flag of Togo

Turkmenistan

The Constitution of 1992 was further amended by Constitutional Law No. 297-VI of September 25, 2020 which entered into force on January 1, 2021. We have included the text of the amending law in Turkmen and English (translation of News Central Asia), and also include the consolidated text in Turkmen and Russian of the Ministry of Justice. The Russian text of the Constitution as amended to 2017 as provided by the OSCE/ODIHR has also been added.

Flag of Turkmenistan

United Kingdom

The European Union (Future Relationship) Act of 2020 has been added to our collection of laws concerning constitutional matters in the United Kingdom. We have also included explanatory notes, prepared by the Ministry of Justice, to accompany the original text and assist the reader of the Act. Additionally, explanatory notes have been added to the European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Act of 2020 and the Northern Ireland (Executive Formation etc.) Act of 2019.

Flag of the United Kingdom

United States of America

The 2018 and 2020 Supplements to our basic reference edition of the Constitution: the Constitution of the United States: Analysis and Interpretation, have now been added, as has the latest edition of the text from the U.S. Code.

Flag of the United States of America

Uzbekistan

The Constitution of 1992 was further amended by Law No. ZRU-670 and Law No. ZRU-671 of February 8, 2021. For both, we have included the text of the amending laws in Russian and Uzbek from the Government. We have also included the current consolidated text, as amended to 2021, from the Government in the following languages: English, Russian, and Uzbek. Additionally, we have added to Uzbekistan’s collection of Amending Laws.

We now include the following amending laws in Russian and Uzbek from the Government:

  • Law No. ZRU-563, September 4, 2019
  • Law No. ZRU-527, March 5, 2019
  • Law No. ZRU-522, February 18, 2019
  • Law No. ZRU-498, October 15, 2018
  • Law No. ZRU-305, December 12, 2011
Flag of Uzbekistan

Zimbabwe

We have added the current consolidated text of the Constitution of 2013, published by Veritas, as amended to the Constitution Amendment Act of 2017. Since the validity of the Act of 2017 has been challenged in the Constitutional Court, the full text includes an important note regarding the judgement decision made by the Court. We have added the decision [Judgement No. CCZ 4/20] from the Zimbabwe Legal Information Institute to the Amending Laws of Zimbabwe. The decision remains effective to date.

Flag of Zimbabwe

Stay tuned for our next update!

For help searching or navigating World Constitutions Illustrated, check out our LibGuide!

HeinOnline search gurus are available Monday through Friday 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Call us at (800) 277-6995, email us, or chat with us!

Stay connected with HeinOnline: Tweet us, like us, follow us, and watch us!

You Might Also Like
Content Updates
New Journals Added to HeinOnline: October and November 2024

Over the past two months, we have added more than 6,400 new articles and 16 new active serials to the Law Journal Library. Keep reading to learn about these new additions to our collection of multidisciplinary journals.

Content Updates
Embargoes Lifted: Explore the Newly Available West Academic Casebooks

We are thrilled to announce that the embargoes on 27 titles from the West Academic Casebooks Archive have been lifted! This collection grants access to a wide selection of out-of-print and superseded casebooks from West Academic’s prestigious series.

Like what you see?

There’s plenty more where that came from! Subscribe to the HeinOnline Blog to receive posts like these right to your inbox.

By entering your email, you agree to receive great content from the HeinOnline Blog. HeinOnline also uses the information you provide to contact you about other content, products, and services we think you’ll love.

Like what you're reading? Subscribe to the blog!