Constitution
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Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A R Y CONSTITUTION Contents Declaration of the Act of Independence ...................................................................................... 2 The Constitutions of the Soviet Azerbaijan ................................................................................ 3 Republic of Azerbaijan - Act of Constitution on State Independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan...................................................................................................................................... 6 The Constitution of 1995 ............................................................................................................ 10 Bibliography cited ....................................................................................................................... 57 Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A R Y Declaration of the Act of Independence The National Council of Azerbaijan, consisting of the Deputy Chairman Hasan-bey Agayev, the Secretary Mustafa Mahmudov, Fatali Khan Khoyski, Khalil-bey Khas-Mammadov, Nasib-bey Usubbeyov, Mir Hidayat Seidov, Nariman-bey Narimanbeyov, Heybat-Gulu Mammadbeyov, Mehti-bey Hajinski, Ali Asker-bey Mahmudbeyov, Aslan-bey Gardashev, Sultan Majid Ganizadeh, Akber-Aga Sheykh-Ul-Islamov, Mehdi-bey Hajibababeyov, Mammad Yusif Jafarov, Khudadad-bey Melik-Aslanov, Rahim-bey Vekilov, Hamid-bey Shahtahtinskiy, Fridun-bey Kocharlinski, Jamo-bey Hajinski, Shafi-bey Rustambeyov, Hosrov-Pashabey Sultanov, Jafar Akhundov, Mahammad Maherramov, Javad Melik-Yeganov and Haji Molla Akhund-zadeh adopt the following Act of Independence of Azerbaijan on May 28, 1918 in the city of Tiflis. The political regime established in Russia during the Great Russian Revolution causes the collapse of different parts of the state structure and the abandonment of Transcaucasus by the Russian troops. Left on their own, the Transcaucasian peoples take over the decision on their fate and establish the Transcaucasian Democratic Federal Republic. However, in the subsequent political development, the Georgian people express their will to separate from the Transcaucasian Democratic Federal Republic and to create the Independent Georgian Democratic Republic. Generated by the cessation of hostilities between Russia and the Ottoman Empire, the current political situation of Azerbaijan and in particular the intolerable anarchy within the country, call for the need of creating a separate State in Azerbaijan in order to deliver its people from the constraints that have resulted from the present difficult internal and external situation. This State shall consist of Eastern and Southern Transcaucasus. Consequently, the National Council of Azerbaijan, issued from a nation-wide election, now declares to the nation: I. Henceforth, the people of Azerbaijan are sovereign and Azerbaijan, consisting of Eastern and Southern Transcaucasus, is an independent state with all rights pertaining to statehood. II. The form of political organization of independent Azerbaijan is a Democratic Republic. III. The Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan aims to establish relations of good neighborhood with all countries, in particular with friendly nations and states. IV. The Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan guarantees on its territory, the civil and political rights to all citizens, irrespective of their nationality, religion, social status and gender. V. The Democratic Republic of Azerbaijan provides widest possibilities to all ethnic groups living on its territory, for their free development. VI. Pending the first session of the Constitutive Assembly, governmental authority in Azerbaijan is entrusted to the Provisional Government, which reports to both the National Council and the National Assembly, issued from a nation-wide election. 2 Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A R Y The Constitutions of the Soviet Azerbaijan Constitution of 1921 In May 6 of 1921 the First All-Azeri congress of Soviets passed the first Constitution of Azerbaijan SSR. The Constitution of Azerbaijan Republic was founded on the same principles with the Constitution of RSFSR of 1918. The Constitution consisted of 5 parts, 15 chapters, and 104 articles. The parts of constitution reflected regulations on the political system of the government, the order of organization of Soviet power, the order and principles of carrying out regulatory elections, fundamental regulations of budget law, descriptions of the government symbols (the emblem and the flag) of Azerbaijan SSR. Furthermore constitution of 1921 said about freedom of speech and press, freedom of mass-meetings and street demonstrations, freedom of conscience, equality of rights irrespective of nationality, race and religion, a right to free general and compulsory education. The Constitution of Azerbaijan SSR of 1921 established the following system of the supreme organs of government of the republic: Azerbaijani Congress of Soviets, Central Committee of Azerbaijan and the Presidium of Central Committee of Azerbaijan. The XV chapter of Constitution was devoted to the governmental symbols (the emblem and the flag) of Azerbaijan SSR. The State Flag was described in the article 104 of Constitution: “The trade, marine and military flag of Azerbaijan Socialist Soviet Republic is of a red (scarlet) color cloth with gold initials “ASSR” or inscription “Azerbaijan Socialist Soviet Republic” in the green field in the upper hoist.” In the Constitution of 1921 there is no article about the State Hymn. Constitution of 1927 On December 30, 1922, in Moscow in the I All Union congress of Soviets was taken a decision about creation of the USSR. This decision put an end to the independence of Azerbaijan. In the March, 1927, the 5th congress of Soviet Azerbaijan passed the second Constitution of Azerbaijan SSR that had been prepared on the basis of the Constitution of Russia. The adoption of the new Constitution in the IX Extraordinary Congress of Soviet Azerbaijan laid the foundation of the activity of the new legislative organ. Under the new Constitution the legislative organ was established in the new format – Azerbaijan Supreme Soviet. But it was just only a formal substitution of the name. The Constitution of 1927 consisted of 5 parts, 9 chapters, and 101 articles. The first part was devoted to general positions. Juridical position of Azerbaijan within TSFSR and USSR, supreme organs of government and the rights of citizens were reflected herein. The second part of the constitution indicated authority of the congress of Soviets and the Central Executive Committee of Azerbaijan, and it was also marked herein, that decisions of the supreme organs of TSFSR possessed coercive force in Azerbaijan. The third part of constitution consisted of 5 chapters and enclosed numerous positions about central power, the higher judgment of Azerbaijan, Nakhichevan ASSR and NKAR, local power and soviet elections. The constitution described AZCEC like legislative, efficient and inspectional organ. The fourth part pointed to the budgetary law, and finally the last part was devoted to the emblem and flag of the Republic The article 99 of the Constitution indicated descriptions of State symbols. The State Flag of Azerbaijan was described in the article 104. “The State Flag of Azerbaijan Socialist Soviet Republic is a red (scarlet) color cloth in ratio 2:1 with a gold sickle and hammer with the radius of 1/6 of 3 Administrative Department of the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan P R E S I D E N T I A L L I B R A R Y the flag width in the upper hoist; above them a gold moon, with its endings turned to the left and a red five- pointed star, framed with a gold fringe. The diameter of the crescent is equal to 1/10 of the flag width; there is an inscription in old and new Turkic alphabets on the right of the sickle and hammer”. There is no article about State Hymn in the Constitution of 1927. Constitution of 1937 The new Constitution of Azerbaijan SSR was passed in 1937. In contrast to former constitutions, new chapters, such as “social system”, “fundamental rights and duties of citizens”, “organs of supreme government of Nakhichevan ASSR”, “organs of state power of NKR”, “court and public prosecutor’s office” were introduced into the Constitution of 1937 The new Constitution contained 14 chapters and 155 articles. The I chapter of the Constitution was devoted to the social system of Azerbaijan SSR, the II — to the governmental system, the III — to the organs of supreme state power of Azerbaijan, the IV chapter – to the organs of governmental administration, the V chapter – to the organs of supreme state power of Nakhichevan ASSR, the VI - to the organs of governmental administration of Nakhichevan ASSR, the VII – to the organs of state power of NKAR, the VIII – to the local organs of state power, the IX – to the budget of Azerbaijan, the X – to the court and office of public prosecutor, the XI - fundamental rights and duties of citizens, the XII – to the electoral system, the XIII – to the governmental symbols – language, emblem, flag, capital and finally the XIV to the order of constitutional amendments. In the chapter 151 of the Constitution there was a description of State Emblem. The State Flag of Azerbaijan had been described in the chapter 152: The State Flag of the Azerbaijan Soviet Socialist Republic is a