CONSTITUTIONS of NATIONS

SECOND EDITION of NATIONS

SECOND EDITION

The first compilation in the English language of the texts of the constitutions of the various nations of the world, together with summaries, annotations, bibliographies, and comparative tables

VOLUME I AFGHANISTAN to FINLAND

by AMOS J. PEASLEE

Formerly Ambassador of the United States of A mericd to Australia, Secretary General of the International Bar Association, Member of the American Council of Learned Societies, President of the American Branch of the International Law Association, Repre• sentative of the American Society of International Law at the San Francisco Conference of 1945, Associate of the American Com- mission to Negotiate Peace at VersaiUes in 1919

Author of INTERNATIONAL GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS• THEIR CONSTITUTIONAL DOCUMENTS (Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague; and Justice House, New York, 1956), A PERMANENT UNITED NATIONS (Putnams, 1942),. UNITED NATIONS GOVERN• MENT (Putnams, 1945), and co-author of THREE WARS WITH GERMANY (Putnams, 1944) ISBN 978-94-017-7090-3 ISBN 978-94-017-7125-2 (eBook) DOI 10.1007/978-94-017-7125-2

Copyright 1956 by Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht Originally published by Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, Netherlands in 1956. Softcover reprint ofthe hardcover 2nd edition 1956 AU rights reserved, incZuding the right to translate or to reproduce this book ar parts thereot in any torm In three Volumes

VOLUME I

AFGHANISTAN to FINLAND TO THE ONCOMING GENERATIONS FOREWORD TO THE SECOND EDITION

Since the publication of the first edition in 1950 major changes have occurred in the texts or status of the constitutions of 35 of the total of 89 nations-approximately 40 percent of them.1 Five new countries have become generally recognized sovereign nations.2 Other changes in the second edition include improvements in trans• lations and summaries, revisions of tables, and additions to bibliographies. The Editor apologizes to subscribers whose orders for the first edition could not be filled. The edition was exhausted and it has not been possi• ble, until now, to act upon orders recently received. Consideration is being given to placing this compilation on the basis of loose leaf supplements, with current changes being supplied annually to subscribers. That would involve the necessity of a very considerable increase in the price, or else a substantial annual service charge. For the present that is not being attempted. Old subscribers will be given prefer• ence in the distribution of copies of this second edition, and new sub• scribers will receive copies in the order of receipt of their subscriptions. The Editor is particularly indebted to the Pan American Union which supplied the English texts of the new Latin American constitutions, and to the Foreign Offices, the Embassies in Washington and Canberra, the UnitedNations Missions and the Information Offices of many of the coun• tries, for the texts of constitutions and amendments, as well as much other helpful information.

United States Embassy Amos J. Peaslee Canberra, Australia January 1. 1956

1 Albania, Bhutan, Brazil, Cambodia, Denmark, Egypt, El Salvador, Germany, Greece, Haiti, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Iran, Israel, Jordan, Laos, Libya, Mexico, Nepal, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Poland, Portugal, Ruma• nia, Switzerland, , Thailand, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela, VietNam and Yugoslavia. 2 Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Libya, VietNam. FOREWORD TO THE FIRST EDITION This is the first compilation ever published in the English language of all of the national constitutions of the world.1 The British Foreign Office in 1938 announced the publication of such a work, but the war and many constitutional changes intervened, and only one volume of that project ever appeared.2 The general plan of these volumes and much of their text have been scrutinized before publication by a group of authorities on constitutional and international law, and literature. They are not responsible for the comments or conclusions, but their criticisms and suggestions have been most helpful. The group includes Ralph G. Albrecht, George Agnew Chamberlain, Frederic R. Coudert, Willard B. Cowles, Wadsworth Cresse, Jr., John Erskine, George A. Finch, Christopher B .. Garnett, John N. Ha• zard, Gerald J. McMahon, Martin Hill, Manley 0. Hudson, Wilfred Jenks, Alfred D. Lindley, Harold H. Martin, John J. McCloy, John W. Nason, Harold E. Stassen, Dorothy Stratton, Edgar Turlington, William Roy Vallance, Sarah Wambaugh, and Thomas Raeburn White.

1 The excellent French compilation Les Constitutions Modernes by F. R. Dareste and P. Dareste (see Revised Editions by Joseph Delpech and Julien Laferriere, Librairie du Recueil Sirey, Paris) has not been reproduced in English, nor is it current. Other foreign collections and partial English compilations include Modern Constitutions by Walter Fairleigh Dodd (Chicago University Press, 1902); Federal and Unified Constitu• tions byr Arthur Percival Newton (Longmans Green, l923); American Constitutions by Jose Ignacio Rodriguez (Government Printing Office, Washington, 1907); Les Constitu• tions del' Europe Nouvelle and Les Constitutions des Nations Americaines, by B. Mirkine• Guetzevitch (Librairie Delgrave, Paris 1932); Constituciones Politicas de America, by Andres Maria Lazcano y Maz6n (Cultural, S. A., Havana, 1942); Konstitutsii Burzhuaz• nykh Stran (Constitutions of Bourgeois Countries, published in Leningrad and Moscow in 1935-36); TheNew Constitutions of Europe by McBain and Rogers (Doubleday Page, 1922); The Constitutions of the States at War, 1914-19, by Herbert Francis Wright (Government Printing Office, Washington, 1919); Constitutions, Electoral Laws, Treaties of States of the Near and Middle East, by Helen Miller Davis (Duke University Press, 1947); and The Constitutions of the Americas by Russell H. Fitzgibbon (Chicago Univ. Press, 1948). See also Constitutional Provisions concerning Social and Economic Policy, published by the International Labour Office, 1944 and Collection des constitutions, chartes et lois fondamentales des peuples de l'Europe et des deux Ameriques, by Pierre Armand Dufau, et al., Paris, 1821-23; Constituciones politicas de la America meridional by .Justo Arose• mana, Havre, 1870; Les constitutions de tousles pays civiliscs, by Princesse de Lesiguano, Brussels, 1880; Recopilaci6n de las constituciones vigentes en Europa y America, by Fran• cisco de Heredia, Madrid, 1884; The Convention Manual of the Sixth New York State Constitutional Convention, 1894, Vol. III, Part II, Albany, N.Y. 1894; Die Staatsver• fassungen des Erdballs, Charlottenburg, 1909; Constituciones vigentes de los estados americanos, by Rafael Altamira y Crevea, Madrid, 1929-30; and Las Constituciones de America, by Leonardo Pasquel, Mexico D. F., 1943. 2 Constitutions of All Countries, Vol. I, "The British Empire", Foreign Office, H.M.S.O., London, 1938. XII C01Ultituti0718 of N ati0718 I am particularly indebted to Dr. Ivan Kerno, the chief legal officer of the United Nations for his generous introduction; and to the Foreign Offices and Washington Embassies of many of the nations, and Edgar Turlington and Dexter Brigham, two of my law partners, for their extensive assistance. Translations and studies were contributed by Senator Edgar H. Brookes, Ma. Litt., of South Africa; James Christie, C.M.G., LL.M., counsel to the New Zealand Law Drafting Office; Jose F. Estigarribia, former President of the Republic of Paraguay; Arturo Despradel, Secretary of Foreign Relations of the Dominican Republic, and Professor Gunnar Thoroddson of the University of Iceland. Several translations from Spanish and French texts have been made by my daughters, Dorothy Waddington Peas• lee of the Secretariat of the United Nations, and Lucy P. Dougall. Some research was done by Ruben Gonzales Sosa and Gustavo Garcia Guerrero, of Mexico. The indexing and much of the final checking of proof were done by James Wood. The excellent reproduction of the national seals and coats of arms is the work of my friend and associate in the Army and at the Versailles Peace Conference, Joseph P. Sims of Philadelphia. Mr. Sims was accorded the courtesy of access to the unrivaled collection of the National Geo• graphic Society. The present effort is intended for the use of persons primarily inter• ested in present day problems of world government. Since the process of -building-both international and national-is likely to be a major interest and occupation for some years yet to come, it is hoped that these volumes may find a welcome among statesmen and public officials, lawyers and jurists, business men and labor leaders, educators and students.

Justice House, Amos J. Peaslee Clarksboro, New Jersey, U.S.A. June 1, 1949 CONSTITUTIONS OF NATIONS

INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST EDITION by

DR I VAN KERNO Assistant Secretary-General in charge of the Legal Department United Nations

As nations have grown closer together through the years an increasing interest in the lives and customs of other peoples has been evident in every corner of the globe. This desire for greater understanding is not an idle curiosity, but a universal necessity if the peoples of the world are, in the words of the Charter of the United Nations, "to practice tolerance and live together in peace with one another as good neighbors.~' Perhaps the need is nowhere of greater importance than in the understanding of the different legal systems and the fundamental constitutional principles of government. This need is particularly evident to those of us with the United Nations who from day to day must deal with the inter-relations of the Member States. Mr. Peaslee's Constitutions of Nations is a real contribution to this essential understanding of fundamental principles of government of the various countries, and is thus a welcome response to a real and vital need. A scholarly work of this character, presenting the texts of the constitu• tions of the nations of the world, not only makes available to a much wider audience these indispensable materials for the study of international and national constitution building, but also immeasurably lightens the re• search burden of those who must daily deal with the legal relations of states. Mr. Peaslee's publication should prove very useful to interna• tional and national statesmen, officials, lawyers, educators and students of international affairs. The compilation of the constitutions of the states of the world is a proj• ect which might well have been undertaken by the United Nations itself. Indeed such a task was suggested and discussed. Abstracts from consti• tutional materials dealing with human rights and fundamental freedoms are being published in the United Nations Yearbook on Human Rights. But it was recognized that even for the work in the field of human rights xiv Constitutions of Nations I the complete texts of the constitutions would be desirable, and in many instances necessary. There are in existence, of course, several compila• tions and partial compilations of constitutions as enumerated in Mr. Peaslee's Foreword to this collection. All of these are extremely valuable, but none of them now present the completely up-to-date and compre• hensive collection which Mr. Peaslee has compiled. In addition Mr. Peaslee brings us the first complete work of this kind ever published in the English language. The bibliographies, tables, and summaries add to the convenience and value of the collection. Mr. Peaslee is eminently qualified by his long and active experience in the fields of both international and constitutional law to prepare a publi• cation of the present character. His name is well known to most prac• ticing lawyers and jurists throughout the world. As Secretary General of the International Bar Association he is doing much to promote the growth of international law and to establish and maintain friendly relations among the members of the legal profession of every country. Such ac• tivity is itself a great service to the United Nations and to its cause, the cause of peace, which is the fervent desire of all peoples everywhere. Under Article 13 of the Charter of the United Nations the General Assembly has been entrusted with the task of initiating studies and mak• ing recommendations for the purpose of encouraging the progressive de• velopment of international law and its codification. With this objective in view the General Assembly has established an International Law Com• mission whose eminent members will contribute greatly to the growth and clarification of the law of nations. The ILC must have the cooperation not only of governments and scientific institutions, but of individual jurists throughout the world. Publications such as Mr. Peaslee's Constitutions of Nations are a great contribution to the important task of encouraging the development of international law, and it is hoped that other projects undertaken by the lawyers and scholars of every country may be of equal service in advancing the task which lies ahead. CONTENTS

VOLUME I Page DEDICATION VII FOREWORD TO THE SECOND EDITION ...... IX FoREWORD TO THE FIRST EDITION ...... XI INTRODUCTION TO THE FIRST EDITION (DR I VAN KERNO)...... XIII CoNTENTS XV GENERAL SuMMARY ...... 1 International Status ...... 1 TheList of Nations ...... 1 Membership in International Organizations ...... 2 Forms of National Governments ...... 2 Written or Unwritten Constitutions ...... 2 Ages of National Constitutions ...... 3 Federal or Unitary ...... 3 Republican or Monarchical ...... 3 Relations of Legislative, Executive and Judicial Organs...... 4 Sources of Sovereign Power ...... 5 Sovereign People...... 5 Sovereign Monarchs ...... 6 Rights of the People ...... 7 Legislative Departments ...... 7 Bicameral and Unicameral ...... 7 Names of Legislative Bodies ...... 8 Tenure of Office ...... 9 Methods of Selection ...... 10 Executive Departments ...... 11 T·itles ...... 11 Methods of Selection ...... l2 Tenure of Office ...... 12 Limitations on Succession ...... 13 Judicial Departments ...... 13 Names and Functions of Highest Courts ...... 13 Methods of Selection ...... 14 Tenure of Office of Highest Judges ...... 14 Areas and Populations ...... 14 DETAILS oF NATIONAL CoNSTITUTIONs Afghanistan ...... 17 Summary...... 17 xvi Contenl8- Vol. I Page Text, Fundamental Principles of the Government of Afghan- istan, October 31, 1931 (with addendum-February 22, 1933) 21 Bibliography ...... 31 Albania ...... 32 Note...... 32 Bibliography ...... 34 Andorra...... 35 Summary...... 35 Text, Plan of Reform adopted in the Valleys of Andorra, 31st of May, 1866 ...... 37 Bibliography ...... 41 Argentina ...... 42 Summary...... 42 Text, Constitution of the Argentine Republic, March 16, 1949 . . 47 Bibliography ...... 67 Australia ...... 73 Summary...... 73 · Text, The Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Act, July 9, 1900...... 77 Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia, July 9, 1900 (with amendments) ...... 79 Bibliography ...... 101 Austria ...... 103 . Summary ...... 103 Text, Federal Constitution of Austria, October 10, 1920 (with amendments of 1925 and 1929) ...... 107 Federal Constitutional Law (211/1955) Concerning the Neu• trality of Austria, October 26, 1955 ...... 147 Bibliography ...... 148 Belgium ...... 148 . Summary ...... 148 Text, , February 7, 1831 (with amend- ments) ...... 153 Bibliography ...... 169 Bhutan ...... 171 . Summary ...... 171 Text, Treaty between India and Bhutan, August 7, 1949...... 172 Bibliography ...... 174 Bolivia...... 17 . 5 Summary ...... 175 Text, Political Constitution of the Bolivian State of November 23, 1945 (as amended)...... 179 Bibliography ...... 203 Cantenta- Vol. I xvii Page Brazil ...... 204 Summary ...... 204 Text, Constitution of the United States of Brazil, September 24, 1946 ...... 208 Bibliography ...... 256 Bulgaria ...... 258 Summary ...... 258 Text, Constitution of the People's Republic of Bulgaria, December 4, 1947 ...... 262 Bibliography ...... 274 Burma ...... 275 Summary ...... 275 Text, Constitution of the Union of Burma, September 24, 1947 . 279 Bibliography ...... 325 Byelorussian S.S.R ...... 326 Summary ...... 326 Text, Constitution (Basic Law) of the Byelorussian Soviet Social- ist Republic, February 19, 1937 ...... 330 Bibliography ...... 344 Cambodia ...... 345 Summary...... 345 Text, Constitution of the Kingdom of Cambodia, May 6, 1947 349 Bibliography ...... 359 Canada ...... 360 Summary ...... 360 Text, The British North America Act, 1867 ...... 365 The British North America Act, 1871 ...... 392 The Parliament of Canada Act, 1875 ...... 394 The British North America Act, 1886 ...... 395 The British North America Act, 1907 ...... 396 The British North America Act, 1915 ...... 399 The British North America Act, 1916 ...... 401 The British North America Act, 1930 ...... 401 The British North America Act, 1940 ...... 403 The British North America Act, 1943 ...... 404 The British North America Act, 1946 ...... 405 The British North America Act, 1949 ...... 406 The BritishJNorth America Act (No.2), 1949 ...... 407 The British North America Act, 1951 ...... 408 The British North America Act, 1952 ...... 408 The Statute of Westminster, 1931 ...... 428 Bibliography ...... 434 Ceylon...... 436 Summary ...... 436 xviii Contents- Vol. I Page Text, The Ceylon Independence Act, 1947...... 440 The Ceylon Independence (Commencement) Order in Council, 1947 ...... 444 ThE: Ceylon Independence Order in Council, 1947 . . . • . . . . 445 The Ceylon (Constitution) Order in Council, 1946 ...... 446 The Ceylon (Constitution) (Amendment No. 3) Order in Council, 1947 ...... 472 The Ceylon (Office of Governor-General) Letters Patent, 1947...... 473 Royal Instructions, 19th December, 1947 ...... 476 Bibliography ...... 478 Chile ...... 479. Summary ...... 479 Text, Political Constitution of the Republic of Chile, September 18, 1925 (as amended)...... 482 Bibliography ...... : . . . . . 506 China...... 50'7 Summary ...... 507 Text, Constitution of the Republic of China, December 25, 1947. 515 Data Regarding the "People's Republic of China" ...... 533 Bibliography ...... 535 Colombia ...... 537. Summary ...... 537 Text, Political Constitution of the Republic of Colombia, February 16, 1945. With amendments to February, 16, 1945 541 Bibliography ...... 572 Costa Rica ...... 573. Summary ...... 573 Text, Constitution of the Republic of Costa Rica, November 8, 1949...... 576 Bibliography ...... 605 Cuba ...... 606. Summary ...... 606 Text, Constitution of the Republic of Cuba, July 5, 1940 ...... 610 Bibliography ...... 682 Czechoslovakia ...... 684 Summary ...... 684 Text, Constitution of the Czechoslovak Republic, June 9, 1948 . 689 Bibliography ...... 729 Denmark ...... 730. Summary ...... 730 Text, Constitution of the Kingdom of Denmark Act June 5, 1953 733 The Succession to the Throne Act, March 27, 1953 ...... 745 Bibliography ...... 746 Contents- Vol. II xix Page Dominican Republic ...... 74 7 Summary ...... 747 Text, Constitution of the Dominican Republic, January 10, 1947 750 Bibliography ...... 768 Ecuador ...... 769 Summary ...... 769 Text, Constitution of the Republic of Ecuador, December 31, 1946 ...... 772 Bibliography ...... 809 Egypt ...... 810 Summary ...... 810 Text, Principles of the Interim Constitution issued February 10, 1953 ...... 813 Bibliography ...... 814 El Salvador ...... 815 Summary ...... 815 Text, Constitution of El Salvador, September 8, 1950 ...... 818 Bibliography ...... 852 Ethiopia ...... 853 Summary ...... ·...... 853 Text, Constitution of Ethiopia, July 16, 1931 ...... 855 Bibliography ...... 859 Finland ...... 860 Summary ...... 860 Text, Form of Government of Finland, July 17, 1919 ...... 864 Diet Act, January 13, 1928 ...... 878 Bibliography ...... 896

VOLUME II France ...... 1 Summary...... 1 Text, Constitution of the French Republic, September 28, 1946 6 Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, August 26, 1789 ...... 20 Bibliography ...... 22 Germany...... 24 Summary...... 24 Text, Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany promul- gated, May 23, 1949 as effective March 15, 1955 . . . . . 30 Text, Constitution of the "German Democratic Republic", August 3, 1950 ...... 59 Bibliography ...... 80 Greece ...... 87 Summary...... 87 XX Content8- Vol II Page Text, , January 1, 1952 ...... 91 Bibliography ...... 113 Guatemala ...... 114 Summary ...... 114 Text, Political Statute of the Republic of Guatemala, August 10, 1954 ...... 118 Bibliography ...... 126 Haiti...... 127 Summary ...... 127 Text, Constitution of the Republic of Haiti, November 25, 1950 130 Bibliography ...... 153 Honduras ...... 154 Summary ...... 154 Text, Political Constitution of the Republic of Honduras, March 28,1936...... 157 Bibliography ...... 181 Hungary ...... 182 Summary ...... 182 Text, , August 1949 ...... 185 Bibliography ...... 197 1celand ...... 198 Summary ...... 198 Text, Constitution of the Republic of Iceland, June 17,1944.... 201 Comments on the , by Gunnar Thoroddsen ...... 209 Bibliography ...... 217 India ...... 218 Summary ...... 218 Text, , November 26, 1949, as amended 1951 223 Bibliography ...... 366 Indonesia ...... 368 Summary ...... 368 Text, Provisional Constitution, August 15, 1950 ...... 371 Bibliography ...... 392 Iran ...... 393 Summary ...... 393 Text, The Iranian Constitution, December 30, 1906 ...... 396 Iranian Constitutional Law, October 8, 1907 ...... 403 Bibliography ...... 411 Iraq...... 412 Summary ...... 412 Text, the Iraq Constitution, March 21, 1925 ...... 415 Bibliography ...... 432 Contents- Vol. II xxi Page Ireland ...... 433 Summary ...... 433 Text, , December 29, 1937 ...... 437 Bibliography ...... 467 Israel ...... 468 Summary ...... ·...... 468 Text, Transition Law 5709-1949 as amended ...... 471 State President Tenure Law 5712-1951 ...... 473 Bibliography ...... 476 Italy...... 478 Summary ...... 478 Text, Constitution of the Italian Republic, December 22, 1947 . 482 Bibliography ...... 505 Japan ...... 507 Summary ...... 507 Text, , November 3, 1946 ...... 511 Bibliography ...... 522 Jordan ...... 524 Summary ...... 524 Text, , January 1, 1952 ...... 527 Bibliography ...... 544 Korea...... 545 Summary ...... 545 Text, Constitution of the Republic of Korea, July 12, 1948 . . . . 549 Bibliography ...... 560 Laos ...... 561 Summary ...... 561 Text, Constitution of Laos, May 11, 1947 ...... 564 Bibliography ...... 569 ...... 570 Summary ...... 570 Text, Constitution of Lebanon, May 23, 1926 ...... 573 Bibliography ...... 582 Liberia ...... 583 Summary ...... 583 Text, Constitution of the Republic of Liberia, July 26, 1847 . . . . 586 Bibliography ...... 595 Libya ...... 596 Summary ...... 596 Text, Constitution of Libya, October 7,1951 ...... 599 Bibliography ...... 618 Liechtenstein ...... 619 Summary ...... 619 xxii Ocmtent8- Vol. II Page Text, Constitution of the Principality of Liechtenstein, October 5, 1921 ...... 622 Bibliography ...... 640 Luxembourg ...... 641 Summary ...... 641 Text, Constitution of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, October 17, 1868 ...... 644 Bibliography ...... 656 Mexico...... 657 Summary ...... 657 Text, Political Constitution of the United States of Mexico, January 31, 1917 ...... 661 Bibliography ...... 709 ...... 711 Summary ...... 711 Text, Constitution of Monaco, January 5, 1911 as amended . . . . 713 Bibliography ...... 719 Mongol People's Republic...... 720 Summary ...... 720 Text, Constitution of the Mongol People's Republic, June 30 1940 ...... 723 Bibliography ...... 736 Muscat and Oman ...... 737 Note ...... 737 Bibliography ...... 738 Nepal...... 739 Summary ...... 739 Text, Interim Government of Nepal Act, April10, 1951 ...... 742 Bibliography ...... 750 Netherlands ...... 751 Summary ...... 751 Text, Constitution of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, adopted August 24, 1815; reissued January 22, 1947 as amended..... 754 Bibliography ...... 784 New Zealand...... 787 Summary ...... 787 Text, The New Zealand Constitution Act, 1852 ...... 194 The New Zealand Constitution (Amendment) Act, 1857 . 799 The Colonial Laws Validity Act, 1865 ...... 799 The Statute of Westminster (reference only), 1931 ...... 801 The Demise of the Crown Act, 1908 ...... 801 The Judicature Act, 1908...... 803 The Judicature Amendment Act, 1910 ...... 824 The Judicature Amendment Act, 1913 ...... 825 The Judicature Amendment Act, 1920 ...... 827 Oontent8- Vol. III xxiii Page The Judicature Amendment Act, 1923 ...... 828 The Judicature Amendment Act, 1930 ...... 828 The Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1908 ...... 829 The Commissions of Inquiry Amendment Act, 1920 . . . . . 833 The Deputy Governor's Powers Act, 1912...... 834 The Civil List Act, 1920 ...... 835 The Electoral Act, 1927 ...... 842 The Treaties of Peace Act, 1919 ...... 859 The Treaties of Peace Extension Act, 1921 ...... 860 External Affairs Act, June 11, 1943 ...... 860 Statute of Westminster Adoption Act, November 25, 1947...... 863 British Nationality and New Zealand Citizenship Act, September 6, 1948 ...... 866 Legislative Council Abolition Act, August 18, 1950 . . . . . 879 Bibliography ...... 881

VOLUME III Nicaragua ...... 1 Summary...... 1 Text, Constitution of the Republic of Nicaragua, November 1, 1950 ...... 4 Bibliography ...... 45 Norway...... 47 Summary...... 47 Text, Constitution of Norway, May 17,1814, with amendments 50 Bibliography ...... 64 Pakistan ...... 65 Summary ...... 0...... 65 Bibliography ...... 66 Panama ...... 0...... 67 Summary ...... 0...... 67 Text, Constitution of the Republic of Panama, March 1, 1946 . 70 Bibliography ...... 0...... 110 Paraguay ...... 111 Summary ...... 111 Text, Constitution of the Republic of Paraguay, July 10, 1940. 114 Comments of Jose F. Estigarribia, former President of Paraguay 125 Bibliography ...... 131 Peru...... 132

Summary ...... 0 ••••••••••••• 0 • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 132 Text, Constitution of the Republic of Peru, April 9, 1933 . . . . . 135 Law of Constitutional Reform, April1, 1936 ...... 159 xxiv Oontent8- Vol. Ill Page Bibliography ...... 159 Philippines ...... 161 Summary ...... 161 Text, Constitution of the Philippines, February 8, 1935 ...... 165 Bibliography ...... 182 Poland ...... 183 Summary ...... 183 'rext, Constitution of the Polish People's Republic, July 22, 1952 187 Bibliography ...... 200 Portugal ...... 202 Summary ...... 202 Text, Political Constitution of the Portuguese Republic, August 1, 1935 as amended ...... 205 Bibliography ...... 235 Rurnania ...... 236 Summary ...... 236 Text, Constitution of the Rumanian People's Republic September 24, 1952 ...... 239 Bibliography ...... 253 San Marino ...... 254 Summary ...... 254 Text, Electoral Law of San Marino, November 18, 1926 ...... 256 Bibliography ...... 262 Saudi Arabia ...... 263 Summary ...... 263 Text, Constitution of the Kingdom of the Hejaz, August 29, 1926...... 266 Decree Constituting the Nejd a Kingdom and Uniting it with the Hejaz, January 29, 1927 ...... 272 Decree Establishing a Council of Ministers, December 29, 1931 ...... 272 Decree No. 2716 for Establishment of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, September 18, 1932 ...... 276 Bibliography ...... 276 Spain...... 277 Summary ...... 277 Text, Charter of the Spanish People, July 16, 1945 ...... 282 Act of July 17, 1942 creating the Spanish Cortes ...... 285 Referendum Act, October 22, 1945...... 287 Law of Succession to the Chief of State, June 7, 1947 . . . . 288 Labor Charter, July 6, 1947...... 290 Bibliography ...... 296 Cantent8- Vol. III xxv Page Sweden ...... 298. Summary ...... 298. Text, Constitution of the Kingdom of Sweden, June 6, 1809 . . . 301 The Organic Law of the Riksdag, June 22, 1866 ...... 324 Bibliography ...... 324 -Switzerland ...... 325. Summary ...... 325. Text, Federal Constitution of the Swiss Confederation, May 29, 329 1874 ...... •...... Bibliography ...... 355 Syria...... 357 Summary...... 357 Text, , September 5, 1950 ...... 360 Bibliography ...... 382 Thailand ...... 383. Summary ...... 383. Text, Constitution of the Thai Kingdom, August 3,1952 ...... 386 Bibliography ...... 400 Turkey...... 401 Summary...... 401 Text, the Turkish Constitution, January 10, 1945 ...... 404 Bibliography ...... 414 Ukrainian SSR ...... 415 Summary ...... 415. Text, Constitution (Basic Law) of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, June 30, 1937, as amended...... 419 Bibltography ...... ·...... 434 Union of South Africa ...... 435 Summary ...... 435. Text, An Act to Constitute the UnionofSouthAfrica, September 20, 1909 ...... 439 Commentary on the Constitution of the Union of South Africa by Senator Edgar H. Brookes ...... 475 Bibliography ...... 479 Union of Soviet Socialist Republics ...... 480 Summary...... 480 Text, Constitution (Fundamental Law) of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, December 5, 1936 as amended ...... 485 Bibliography ...... 502 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland ...... 504 Summary ...... 504 Text, Magna Charta, 1215 ...... 509 The Great Charter of the Liberties of England and of the Liberties of the Forest, 1297 ...... 517 Confirmation of the Charters, 1297...... 521 xxvi Contents- Vol. III Page Statute Concerning Tallage, 1297 ...... 522 The Petition of Right, 1627 ...... 523 The Habeas Corpus Act, 1640 ...... 526 Bill of Rights, 1689 ...... 531 The Act of Settlement, 1700 ...... 534 The Union with Scotland Act, 1706...... 538 The Union with Scotland Amendment Act, 1707 ...... 551 The Union with Ireland Act, 1800 ...... 553 The Parliament Act, August 18, 1911 ...... 569 The Statute of Westminster (reference only), 1931 ...... 571 Bibliography ...... 572 United States of America ...... 577 Summary ...... 577 Text, Constitution of the United States, June 21, 1788 ...... 582 Amendments I to XXII inclusive ...... 590 Bibliography ...... 597 Uruguay ...... 608 Summary ...... 608 Text, Constitution of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, October 26, 1951 ...... 612 Bibliography ...... 665 Vatican City ...... 666 Summary ...... 666 Text, Treaty of the Lateran, February 11, 1929 ...... 668 Concordat between the Holy See and Italy, February 11, 1929...... 675 Constitutional Laws of the City of the Vatican, June 7,1929 677 Bibliography ...... 699 Venezuela ...... 700 Summary ...... 700 Text, Constitution of Venezuela, Aprilll, 1953 ...... 703 Bibliography ...... 726 VietNam ...... 727 Summary ...... 727 Text, Agreement on Cessation of Hostilities in Viet Nam, .July 21, 1954 ...... 731 Ordinance No. 1 of July 1, 1949 for the Organization and Operation of Public Institutions ...... 743 Bibliography ...... 749 Yemen ...... 750 Summary ...... 750 Statement Regarding Constitution ...... 752 Bibliography ...... 752 Yugoslavia ...... 753 Summary ...... 753 Contents- Vol. III xxvii Page Text, Constitution of the Federal People's Republic of Yugo• slavia, January 30, 1946...... 757 Fundamental Law, January 13, 1953 ...... 766 Bibliography ...... 791 CoMPARATIVE TABLES ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••.••• 793 Table I-The International Status of Nations ...... 794 Table II-Form of Government ...... 800 Table III-Source of Sovereign Power ...... 805 Table IV-Rights of the People ...... 808 Table V -Legislative Department ...... 818 Table VI-Executive Department ...... 830 Table VII-Judicial Department ...... 840 Table VIII-Area and Population ...... 850 APPENDIX Data regarding the Baltic States Estonia ...... 855 Latvia...... 857 Lithuania ...... 859 INDEX, VoLUMES I, II, AND III...... 861