Guyana's Constitution of 1980 with Amendments Through 2016
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PDF generated: 26 Aug 2021, 16:31 constituteproject.org Guyana's Constitution of 1980 with Amendments through 2016 This complete constitution has been generated from excerpts of texts from the repository of the Comparative Constitutions Project, and distributed on constituteproject.org. constituteproject.org PDF generated: 26 Aug 2021, 16:31 Table of contents Preamble . 11 PART 1: GENERAL PRINCIPLES . 11 CHAPTER I: THE STATE AND THE CONSTITUTION . 11 1. The State in transition to socialism . 11 2. The territory . 11 3. The capital . 12 4. The flag . 12 5. The coat of arms . 12 6. The anthem . 12 6A. The pledge . 12 7. Duty to respect national symbols . 12 8. Supremacy of Constitution . 12 CHAPTER II: PRINCIPLES AND BASES OF THE POLITICAL, ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL SYSTEM . 12 9. Sovereignty belongs to the people . 12 10. Political parties . 12 11. [Repealed by Act No. 10 of 2003] . 12 12. Local government . 13 13. Objective of political system . 13 14. Goal of economic development . 13 15. Further goal of economic development . 13 16. State to foster forms of development . 13 17. Private enterprise . 13 18. Land to the tiller . 13 19. Personal property . 13 20. Right of inheritance . 14 21. Role of labour . 14 22. The right and the duty to work . 14 23. Right to leisure . 14 24. Right to medical attention and social care in case of old age and disability . 14 25. Duty to improve environment . 14 26. Right to housing . 14 27. Right to education . 14 28. Youth . 14 29. Women's participation in public decision-making . 15 30. [Repealed by Act No. 10 of 2003] . 15 31. Protection of citizens resident abroad . 15 Guyana 1980 (rev. 2016) Page 2 constituteproject.org PDF generated: 26 Aug 2021, 16:31 32. Duty to prevent crime and protect public property . 15 33. Duty to defend State . 15 34. Abolition of discriminatory distinctions . 15 35. National culture . 15 36. Land and the environment . 15 37. External relations . 15 38. National co-operation for development of economy . 16 38A. Democratic state with a healthy economy . 16 38B. The best interest of the child . 16 38C. Adoption in best interest of the child . 16 38D. Child's right to maintenance and accommodation . 16 38E. Formal education compulsory . 16 38F. Vilification of religion . 16 38G. Public service to be free from political influence . 16 39. Guiding principles and objectives . 17 CHAPTER III: FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND FREEDOMS OF THE INDIVIDUAL . 17 40. Fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual . 17 CHAPTER IV: CITIZENSHIP . 17 41. Persons who continue to be citizens on commencement of Constitution . 17 42. Persons entitled to be registered as citizens . 17 43. Persons born in Guyana after commencement of Constitution . 18 44. Persons born outside Guyana after commencement of Constitution . 18 45. Marriage to citizen of Guyana . 18 46. Deprivation of citizenship on acquisition of, or exercise of rights of, another citizenship . 18 47. Commonwealth citizens . 19 48. Powers of Parliament . 19 49. Interpretation . 19 CHAPTER V: SUPREME ORGANS OF DEMOCRATIC POWER . 20 50. Supreme organs of democratic power . 20 CHAPTER VI: PARLIAMENT . 20 51. Establishment of Parliament . 20 52. Composition of the National Assembly . 20 53. Qualifications for election as members . 20 54. Tenure of seats of members of the National Assembly . 21 55. First meeting of the National Assembly . 21 56. Speaker and Deputy Speaker . 21 57. Clerk and Deputy Clerk . ..