HeinOnline’s World Constitutions Illustrated: November 2021 Update

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Back in May, we updated researchers on the content that was released in the World Constitutions Illustrated database from January to April 2021. Read below to find out what new documents have been added to this ever-growing database.

Updates from May 2021 to Date

Since our last content news update, we have updated 48 countries and added 231 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.

Armenia

We have added the English translation of the Constitution of 1995, as amended to 2020, from the Venice Commission. The text includes the changes made by the amending law of June 22, 2020 concerning Art. 213 of the Constitution.

Flag of Armenia

Austria

The Federal Constitutional Law, 1920 [1929/30] [1945] was further amended by Federal Act 107. We include the German text of the amending law from the Federal Law Gazette. We also added the consolidated text, which entered into force June 30, 2021, in German from the Federal Chancellery.

Flag of Austria

Bahrain

The Constitution of 1973 [2002] was further amended by the Amendment of October 21, 2018. We included the Arabic text of the amending law from the Official Gazette. We also added the consolidated text, as amended to 2018, in both English and Arabic from Bahrain Business Laws.

Flag of Bahrain

Belize

The Constitution Act of 1981 was further amended by Act No. 6 of May 6, 2021 to provide for additional grounds for the removal of a judge, and to provide for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. We have included the English text of the amending law from the Government Printer.

Flag of Belize

Benin

We have added the French text of the Constitution of 1990, as amended to 2019, from the Constitutional Court, as well as our own revised translation. We also added the latest on the African Charter of 1981, annexed to the Constitution of 1990, in French from the Constitutional Court.

Flag of Benin

In addition, the Constitutional Court of Benin has now made available a consolidated text of the Constitution of 1990 as amended by Law No. 2019-40 of November 7, 2019. As a result, this revised translation has been prepared. Substantive changes in the translation were made at Arts. 69 and 72.


Bosnia and Herzegovina

We have added the consolidated text of the 1995 Constitution, as amended to 2009, from the Constitutional Court. The original text, with amendments appended, is now included in the following languages: Bosnian, Croatian, Serbian, and English.

Flag of Bosnia

Brazil

The Constitution of 1988 had been amended by the following Constitutional Amendments:

  • Amendment No. 109 in March 2021: we have included Prof. Rosenn’s English translation of the consolidated text as amended
  • Amendment No. 110 of July 12, 2021: we have included the Portuguese text of the amending law from the following sources: the Chamber of Deputies, the Presidency, the Senate, and the Official Gazette. We have also added the consolidated text in Portuguese from the Chamber of Deputies, Presidency and Senate, as well as Prof. Rosenn’s English translation of the consolidated text as amended
  • Amendment No. 111 of September 28, 2021: we have included the Portuguese text of the amending law from the following sources: the Chamber of Deputies, the Presidency, and the Official Gazette, as well as the consolidated text in Portuguese from the Chamber of Deputies and the Presidency
Flag of Brazil

We have also added Prof. Rosenn’s English translation of All Amending Laws 1992-2021 as a group, to include Constitutional Amendment No. 109 and No. 110, and Introductory Notes and Summaries of Amendments [1-109].


Chad

The French text of the Charter of the Transition of April 21, 2021 was published by the web portal of the Presidency of the Republic of Chad. In April, the Transitional Military Council suspended the Constitution of Chad. In its place, it issued a Charter, which granted General Mahamat Deby the powers of the Presidency as interim president and named him head of the Armed Forces. We have included the French text of the Charter of the Transition, and also added our own current/latest translation of the document.

Flag of Chad

In addition, we have added two documents to the Related Texts of the Charter of the Transition of 2021. The following texts are included in French and Arabic from the Official Gazette: Decree No. 31/PCMT/2021 of May 28, 2021 and Decree No. 27/PCMT/2021 of May 24, 2021. We have also provided our own current/latest translation of each Decree as well.


Chile

The Constitution of 1980 as codified in 2005 was further amended by Law No. 21.330 of April 27, 2021. We have added the text of the amending law from the Diario Oficial and the Library of the National Congress, and the consolidated text from the Library of the National Congress. Additionally, we have updated our own current/latest translation correspondingly.

Flag of Chile

Colombia

The Political Constitution of 1991 was further amended by Legislative Act No. 1 of 2021, by which the City of Medellin is granted the quality of a Special District of Science, Technology and Innovation, and other provisions are made. We include the Spanish text of the amending law from the Presidency and the Ministry of Justice. In addition, we have added the consolidated text, as amended to 2021, in Spanish from the Juridical Secretariat of the District of the Office of the Mayor of Bogota, and we have updated our own current/latest translation correspondingly.

Flag of Colombia

The Political Constitution of 1991 was again further amended by Legislative Act No. 2 of 2021, which concerns changes being made to Transitory Articles. We have included the Spanish text of the amending law from the Presidency. Additionally, we added the consolidated text of the Constitution of 1991, as amended to 2021 [Legislative Act No. 2], in Spanish from the Juridical Secretariat of the District of the Office of the Mayor of Bogota.


Congo, Democratic Republic of (Kinshasa)

We have included our own current/latest translation of the Constitution of the Transition of 2003 and the Constitutional Act of the Transition of 1994.

Flag of Congo, Democratic Republic of

Cyprus

We now include the Greek text of the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus of 1960, as amended to 2010, from the Cyprus Bar Association. In addition, we have added the Greek text of the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus of 1960, as amended to 2020, from the Office of the Law Commissioner. We have also added our own English translation of the Constitution of the Republic of Cyprus of 1960, as amended to 2020.

Flag of Cyprus

Czech Republic

The Charter of Fundamental Rights and Basic Freedoms, 1991/2 was further amended by Constitutional Act No. 295/2021 Sb., which adds the right to defend one’s own life or the life of another person with a weapon under certain legal conditions. We have added the amending law in Czech from the Official Gazette, Sbirka Zakonu. In addition, we added the consolidated text of the Charter of Fundamental Rights and Basic Freedoms of 1991/2, as amended to 2021. We included the text in both Czech and English from the Constitutional Court.

Flag of Czech Republic

Denmark

We have included an updated version of the Constitution Act of Denmark [Basic Law of the Kingdom of Denmark], 1953. We added the English text of the Constitution Act, which was published by the Parliament in 2013. This booklet edition includes the Act of Succession of March 27, 1953, as amended on June 12, 2009.

Flag of Denmark

Dominica

We now include the original text of the Commonwealth of Dominica Constitution Order, 1978 from the Stationery Office [legislation of the United Kingdom].

Flag of Dominica

Ecuador

The Constitution of Ecuador was further amended by the amendment of January 17, 2021, which was adopted by the National Assembly. We have included the Spanish text of the amending law from the Official Gazette and the consolidated text in Spanish from the Ministry of National Defense. We have also updated our own current/latest translation correspondingly.

Flag of Ecuador

In addition, we now include our own English translations of the following amendments to the Constitution of 2008:

  • The amendment adopted by the National Assembly, January 17, 2021
  • The amendments adopted at the Referendum of February 4, 2018
  • The amendments adopted by the National Assembly, December 3, 2015

Finland

We have included the Finnish text of the following amending laws to the Parliament Act of 1928, from the Ministry of Justice:

  • Laws 297, 793 of 1989 [re: § 36, 37 b [new], 5]
  • Laws 316, 457, 576, 577, 1254 of 1987 [re: § 37, 37 a, 43, 86, 14, 20, 63, 73 a, 73 b, 74, 76, 84, 66, 67 a, 73, 54]
  • Law 763 of 1986 [re: § 76 a, 82 a]
  • Law 152 of 1985 [re: § 29]
  • Law 237 of 1979 [re: § 66, 76 a, 82 a]
  • Law 240 of 1934 [re: § 7, 13]
  • Law 337 of 1930 [re: § 7]
Flag of Finland

We have included the Swedish text of the following amending laws, to the Parliament Act of 1928, from the Ministry of Justice:

  • Law 455 of 1976 [re: § 7]
  • Law 357 of 1972 [re: § 6, 7]
  • Law 744 of 1971 [re: § 7]
  • Law 117 of 1966 [re: § 37 a]
  • Law 249 of 1937 [re: § 83 a]

Germany

We have added the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany of 1949, as amended to 2019, in English from the Venice Commission.

In addition, we added the booklet editions of the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany of 1949, as amended to 2020, in English and German from the Bundestag.

Flag of Germany

Guinea

We have added the French text of the Constitution of the Republic of Guinea, 2020 [Fourth Republic] from the Official Gazette. We have also updated our own current/latest translation correspondingly.

Flag of Guinea

Haiti

Haiti recently released the official draft of the new Constitution just before the constitutional referendum in which the proposed changes was to be voted on. The referendum, initially scheduled for November, has been pushed back to at least February 2022. We have added the text of the draft of the Constitution of May 2021 and the official draft of the Constitution of September 2021, created by the Independent Advisory Committee (CCI), in both French and Creole from the Haiti Libre site.

Flag of Haiti

Hungary

We have now added an English translation of the Amendment of December 22, 2020 from the Venice Commission. Additionally, we included the consolidated text of the Fundamental Law of Hungary, 2011, as amended to 2020, in Hungarian from the Ministry of Justice. We included two texts with different in force dates; the first text enters into force either December 23, 2020 or June 30, 2023. The second text enters into force July 1, 2023.

Flag of Hungary

India

The Constitution of 1949/50 was further amended by the One Hundred and Fifth Amendment Act of 2021. The amending law aims to restore the power of state governments to identify other classes that are socially and educationally backward. We have included the English text of the amending law from the Official Gazette.

Flag of India

We have also included the Constitution of 1949/50, the consolidation of December 9, 2020 as amended to the One Hundred and Fourth Amendment Act of 2019, in Hindi from the Ministry of Justice.


Indonesia

We have added to the collection of Amending Laws. The following texts have been added in Indonesian from the Consultative Assembly:

  • The First Amendment of 1999
  • The Second Amendment of 2000
  • The Third Amendment of 2001
  • The Fourth Amendment of 2002
Flag of Indonesia

Israel

We have added to the collection of Fundamental Laws for Israel. The following consolidated texts have been added in Hebrew from The Knesset:

  • The Basic Law: The Knesset, 1950, as amended to 2020 [Amendment No. 50]
  • The Basic Law: The Knesset, 1958, as amended to 2021 [Amendment No. 51]
  • The Basic Law: The Government, 2001, as amended to 2020 [Amendment No. 49]
  • The Basic Law: The Government, 2001, as amended to 2021 [Amendment No. 10]
  • The Basic Law: State Economy, 1975, as amended to 2020 [Amendment No. 11]
  • The Basic Law: State Economy, 1975, as amended to 2021 [Amendment No. 51]
Flag of Israel

Kenya

We have added the English text of the following amending laws to the Constitution of 1969, published in the Gazette from Kenya Law Reports:

  • Act of 1990 [re: Secs. 41, 61, 62, 106, 109, 110]
  • Act of 1985 [re: Sec. 89]
  • Act of 1984 [re: Secs. 44, 64, 106, 107, 123]
  • Act of 1982 [re: Secs. 2A (new), 5, 22, 34, 39, 107, 111, 123]
  • Act of 1979 [re: Secs. 34, 35, 53]
  • Act of 1977 [re: Secs. 64, 75, 104]
  • Act of 1975 [re: Sec. 53]
  • Act of 1974 [re: Sec. 43]
Flag of Kenya

In addition, we have included the English text of the following amending laws to the Constitution of 1963, published in the Gazette from Kenya Law Reports:

  • Act No. 40 of 1966
  • Act No. 18 of 1966
  • Act No. 17 of 1966
  • Act No. 16 of 1966
  • Act No. 28 of 1964

Kosovo

We have included the consolidated text of the Constitution of 2008, as amended to 2020. We have added the text, with Amendments I-XXVI appended, from the Assembly in the following languages: Albanian, English, and Serbian.

Flag of Kosovo

Kyrgyzstan

In May 2021, Kyrgyzstan’s president signed a new constitution into law. We have included the Constitution of 2021, as well as the consolidated text, in both Kyrgyz and Russian from the Ministry of Justice.

We have also added documents to Kyrgyzstan’s previous Constitution of 1993, which makes our collection more complete. For the Constitution of the Kyrgyz Republic, 1993 [2003/2006/2007], we have added the following consolidated texts in both Russian and Kyrgyz from the Ministry of Justice:

  • As amended to October 23, 2007
  • As amended to January 15, 2007
  • As amended to 2006
  • As amended to 2003
  • As amended to 2001
  • As amended to 1998
  • As amended to 1996
Flag of Kyrgystan

We have also added the following amending laws in Russian from the Ministry of Justice:

  • Law of October 23, 2007 No. 157 [new edition of the constitution of October 2007: plus transitory provisions]
  • Law of January 2007 No. 2 [new edition of the constitution of January 15, 2007: plus transitory provisions]
  • Law of November 9, 2006 No. 180 [new edition to the constitution of 2006]
  • Law of February 18, 2003 No. 40 [new edition of the constitution of 2003: plus transitory provisions]
  • Law of December 24, 2001 No. 112 [Art. 5]
  • Law of October 21, 1998 No. 134 [Arts. 4, 54, 56, 65, 85]
  • Law of February 16, 1996 No. 1 [Arts. 1, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 42, 45-97]

Mali

We have added to the collection of Constitutions and Fundamental Laws for Mali. We now include the Fundamental Act No. 1/C.N.S.P., August 24, 2020 in French from the Official Gazette and have added our own current/latest translation. The Fundamental Act concerns interim provisions for the government of Mali until the adoption of a new constitution. We have also added Related Texts to the collection concerning the Fundamental Act.

Flag of Mali

The following texts have been added in French from the Official Gazette:

  • Decree Nos. 2021-0017/PT-RM and 2021-0018/PT-RM, January 18, 2021
  • Decree Nos. 2020-0142/PT-RM and 2020-0143/PT-RM, November 9, 2020
  • Decree No. 2020-0094/PT-RM, October 16, 2020
  • Decree No. 2020-0072/PT-RM Concerning Promulgation of the Charter of the Transition, October 1, 2020
  • Decree Nos. 2020-0345/P-RM and 2020-0346/P-RM, August 18, 2020

We have also provided our own current/latest translation for the following:

  • Decree No. 2020-0072/PT-RM Concerning Promulgation of the Charter of the Transition, October 1, 2020
  • Decree No. 2020-0094/PT-RM, October 16, 2020
  • Decree Nos. 2020-0142/PT-RM and 2020-0143/PT-RM, November 9, 2020.

In addition, we have added to the collection of Related Texts under the Fundamental Act No. 1/C.N.S.P. of August 24, 2020. We have included Decree No. 2021-02/CC-DU of May 28, 2021, relating to the vacancy of the presidency of the Transition, in French from the Official Gazette.


Malta

We have now included the following for the Constitution of 1964, as amended by:

  • Act No. XII of 2021. We have added the consolidated text in both English and Maltese from the Ministry of Justice
  • Act No. XXVI of 2021. We have added the text in both English and Maltese, from the Government Gazette, as well as the consolidated text in both English and Maltese from the Ministry of Justice
  • Act No. XX of 2021. We have added the consolidated text in both English and Maltese from the Ministry of Justice
Flag of Malta

Mexico

The Constitution of 1917 was further amended by four amending laws published in the Diario Oficial of May 17, 2021. We have included the Spanish text of the amending laws, which affect Arts. 30, 43, and 74, from the Diario Oficial. We also included the consolidated text in Spanish from the Chamber of Deputies, as well as our own current/latest translation correspondingly.

Flag of Mexico

The Constitution of 1917 was again further amended by the Decree published in the Diario Oficial of May 28, 2021. We have included the Spanish text of the amending law from the Diario Oficial. We also included the consolidated text in Spanish from the Chamber of Deputies, Electoral Tribunal, and updated our own current/latest translation correspondingly.

Additionally, we have added the consolidated text in Spanish of the Constitution, as amended to 2021 [Diario Oficial of May 17, 2021], from the Electoral Tribunal and National Juridical Order.


Montenegro

We have added the consolidated text of the Constitution of 2007, as amended to 2013, in Montenegrin from the Government.

Flag of Montenegro

Namibia

We now include the consolidated annotated text of the Constitution of 1990, as amended to 2014 [the Third Amendment Act]. We have added the text in both English and Oshiwambo from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation site.

Flag of Namibia

Nepal

We have added the consolidated text of the Constitution of Nepal 2072 [corresponding to 2015], as amended to 2020. We have added the text in both English and Nepali from the Nepal Law Commission.

Flag of Nepal

New Zealand

We have added 13 reprints, all updated to 2021, to the collection of statutory acts governing constitutional matters in New Zealand. These include:

  • The Public Service Act of 2020
  • The Privacy Act of 2020
  • The Intelligence and Security Act of 2017
  • The District Court Act of 2016
  • The Crown Entities Act of 2004
  • The Local Government Act of 2002
  • The Local Electoral Act of 2001
  • The Electoral Act of 1993
  • The Ombudsmen Act of 1975
  • The Official Information Act of 1982
  • The State-Owned Enterprises Act of 1986
  • The Public Finance Act of 1989
  • The Treaty of Waitangi Act of 1975
Flag of New Zealand

Nigeria

We have now included the Constitution of the Republic of Nigeria, 1999, as amended to 2017 [Fourth Alteration], from the Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre. We have also added the Nigerian Legislative Council Order in Council, 1954 [“Lyttelton Constitution”] from Gazettes.Africa.

Flag of Nigeria

Peru

The Constitution of 1993 was further amended by Law No. 31280 of July 14, 2021, which establishes the temporary residence regime of the former president of the Republic of Peru. We have included the Spanish text of the amending law, and updated our own current/latest translation correspondingly. We have also included the consolidated text in Spanish from the Publications of the Official Gazette.

Flag of Peru

Additionally, the Constitution of 1993 was amended by Law Nos. 31304 and 31305 of July 23, 2021. Law No. 31304 strengthens the protection of the cultural heritage of the nation, and Law No. 31305 strengthens the fight against corruption in the framework of the lifting of the banking secret and the tax reserve. We have included the Spanish text of the amending laws from the official gazette El Peruano, and the consolidated text in Spanish from the Publications of the Official Gazette, as well as our own English translations.

This brings everything up to date—this was the fourth amendment made to the Constitution of Peru in 2021.


San Marino

In the collection of Fundamental Laws of San Marino, Constitutional Law No. 144 of October 30, 2003, concerning Judicial Power, was further amended by Constitutional Law No. 2 of December 3, 2020. We have included the Italian text of the amending law from the Grand General Council. Additionally, we have added the consolidated Italian text of the Declaration of the Rights of the Citizen and of the Fundamental Principles of the Legal Order of San Marino of 1974, as amended to 2019, from the Grand General Council.

Flag of San Marino

We have also added amending laws to the Declaration of the Rights of the Citizen and of the Fundamental Principles of the Legal Order. The following texts are included in Italian from the Grand General Council:

  • Law of Constitutional Revision 19 September 2000 No. 95
  • Law of Constitutional Revision 25 February 2004 No. 26 [re: Implementing of Art. 4: other norms]

Slovak Republic

We have added the Constitution of the Slovak Republic of 1992, as amended to 2020 [Entered into force January 1, 2021], in English from the Venice Commission.

Flag of Slovak Republic

South Africa

We have added the following amending laws to the Constitution of 1993 from the Government Gazette:

  • Act No. 26, 1996
  • Act No. 7, 1996
  • Act No. 44, 1995
  • Act No. 20, 1995
Flag of South Africa

Sri Lanka

We have included the English text of the Constitution of May 22, 1972 from the Government Printer.

Flag of Sri Lanka

Switzerland

We added the official compilation of amending laws passed at the Referendum of March 7, 2021 in the following languages: French, German, and Italian. We have also added the consolidated text of the Constitution of 1999/2000, as amended and in force, 2021 [March 7, 2021] from the Federal Council in the following languages: English, French, and German.

Flag of Switzerland

Taiwan (Republic of China)

We have added to Taiwan’s collection of Amending Laws. We now include an English translation of the Additional Articles of 2000 from the Government Information Service.

Flag of Taiwan

Tajikistan

We have included the Constitution of 1994, as amended to 2016, in English from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Flag of Tajikistan

Tonga

We have added the 2020 Revised Edition of the Act of Constitution of Tonga, 1875, in both English and Tongan from the Offices of the Attorney General. We also included the original text of the Tonga Act of 1970, in English from The Stationery Office.

Flag of Tonga

In addition, we added the Constitution of Tonga (Amendment) Act of 2021 and Act of 2018, in both English and Tongan from the Government site.


Tunisia

We have included the text of the Constitution of the Tunisian Republic of 2014 in English from the Venice Commission.

In addition, we have added to the collection of Constitutions and Fundamental Laws for Tunisia by including Decree-Law No. 2021-117 of September 22, 2021, relating to Exceptional Measures. We included the text in both French and Arabic from the Official Gazette. We also added our own English translation of the decree to the collection.

Flag of Tunisia

Tuvalu

The Constitution of 1986 was further amended by the Constitution (Amendment) Act of 2021, which repeals the constitutional provisions relating to the age limit of the government general. We have included the text of the amending law in English from the Government site.


Vatican City State

We have added to the collection of Fundamental Laws concerning the Vatican City State. We included the Italian text of the Law on the Judicial System of the Vatican City State of March 16, 2020 from the Government site and from the Official Bulletin.

Flag of Vatican City State

Zimbabwe

The Constitution of 2013 was further amended by the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 2) Act of 2021. We have added the text printed by the Government Printer, which was provided by the site Veritas.

Flag of Zimbabwe

Stay tuned for our next update!

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