dunilefra

[dunilefra]

Admirable Articles of Spain's Constitution

Section 6

Political parties are the expression of political pluralism, they contribute to the formation and expression of the will of the people and are an essential instrument for political participation. Their creation and the exercise of their activities are free in so far as they respect the Constitution and the law. Their internal structure and their functioning must be democratic.

Section 14

Spaniards are equal before the law and may not in any way be discriminated against on account of birth, race, sex, religion, opinion or any other personal or social condition or circumstance.

Section 16

Freedom of ideology, religion and worship of individuals and communities is guaranteed, with no other restriction on their expression than may be necessary to maintain public order as protected by law.

No one may be compelled to make statements regarding his or her ideology, religion or beliefs.

No religion shall have a state character. The public authorities shall take into account the religious beliefs of Spanish society and shall consequently maintain appropriate cooperation relations with the Catholic Church and other confessions.

Section 21

The right to peaceful unarmed assembly is granted. The exercise of this right shall not require prior authorization.

In the case of meetings in public places and of demonstrations, prior notification shall be given to the authorities, who can only forbid them when there are well founded grounds to expect a breach of public order, involving danger to persons or property.

Section 31

Everyone shall contribute to sustain public expenditure according to their economic capacity, through a fair tax system based on the principles of equality and progressive taxation, which in no case shall be of a confiscatory scope.

Public expenditure shall make an equitable allocation of public resources, and its programming and execution shall comply with criteria of efficiency and economy.

Personal or property contributions for public purposes may only be imposed in accordance with the law.

Section 33

The right to private property and inheritance is recognized.

The social function of these rights shall determine the limits of their content in accordance with the law.

No one may be deprived of his or her property and rights, except on justified grounds of public utility or social interest and with a proper compensation in accordance with the law.

Section 38

Free enterprise is recognized within the framework of a market economy. The public authorities guarantee and protect its exercise and the safeguarding of productivity in accordance with the demands of the general economy and, as the case may be, of economic planning.

Section 49

The public authorities shall carry out a policy of preventive care, treatment, rehabilitation and integration of the physically, sensorially and mentally handicapped by giving them the specialized care they require, and affording them special protection for the enjoyment of the rights granted by this Part to all citizens.

Section 50

The public authorities shall guarantee, through adequate and periodically updated pensions, a sufficient income for citizens in old age. Likewise, and without prejudice to the obligations of the families, they shall promote their welfare through a system of social services that provides for their specific problems of health, housing, culture and leisure.

by Dunilefra, working for World Order

[dunilefra]

Admirable Articles of Slovenia's Constitution

Article 3

Slovenia is a state of all its citizens and is founded on the permanent and inalienable right of the Slovene nation to self-determination.

In Slovenia power is vested in the people. Citizens exercise this power directly and through elections, consistent with the principle of the separation of legislative, executive and judicial powers.

Article 7

The state and religious communities shall be separate.

Religious communities shall enjoy equal rights; they shall pursue their activities freely.

Article 14. Equality before the Law

In Slovenia everyone shall be guaranteed equal human rights and fundamental freedoms irrespective of national origin, race, sex, language, religion, political or other conviction, material standing, birth, education, social status, disability or any other personal circumstance.

All are equal before the law.

Article 18. Prohibition of Torture

No one may be subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading punishment or treatment. The conducting of medical or other scientific experiments on any person without his free consent is prohibited.

Article 22. Equal Protection of Rights

Everyone shall be guaranteed equal protection of rights in any proceeding before a court and before other state authorities, local community authorities and bearers of public authority that decide on his rights, duties or legal interests.

Article 25. Right to Legal Remedies

Everyone shall be guaranteed the right to appeal or to any other legal remedy against the decisions of courts and other state authorities, local community authorities and bearers of public authority by which his rights, duties or legal interests are determined.

Article 26. Right to Compensation

Everyone has the right to compensation for damage caused through unlawful actions in connection with the performance of any function or other activity by a person or body performing such function or activity under state authority, local community authority or as a bearer of public authority.

Any person suffering damage has the right to demand, in accordance with the law, compensation also directly from the person or body that has caused damage.

Article 28. Principle of Legality in Criminal Law

No one may be punished for an act which had not been declared a criminal offence under law, or for which a penalty had not been prescribed, at the time the act was performed.

Acts that are criminal shall be established and the resulting penalties pronounced according to the law that was in force at the time the act was performed, save where a more recent law adopted is more lenient towards the offender.

Article 29. Legal Guarantees in Criminal Proceedings

Anyone charged with a criminal offence must, in addition to absolute equality, be guaranteed the following rights:

the right to have adequate time and facilities to prepare his defence;

the right to be present at his trial and to conduct his own defence or to be defended by a legal representative;

the right to present all evidence to his benefit;

the right not to incriminate himself or his relatives or those close to him, or to admit guilt.

Article 30. Right to Rehabilitation and Compensation

Any person unjustly convicted of a criminal offence or deprived of his liberty without due cause has the right to rehabilitation and compensation, and other rights provided by law.

Article 31. Prohibition of Double Jeopardy

No one may be sentenced or punished twice for the same criminal offence for which criminal proceedings were dismissed finally, or for which the charge was finally rejected, or for which the person was acquitted or convicted by final judgement.

Article 41. Freedom of Conscience

Religious and other beliefs may be freely professed in private and public life.

No one shall be obliged to declare his religious or other beliefs.

Parents have the right to provide their children with a religious and moral upbringing in accordance with their beliefs. The religious and moral guidance given to children must be appropriate to their age and maturity, and be consistent with their free conscience and religious and other beliefs or convictions.

Article 42. Right of Assembly and Association

The right of peaceful assembly and public meeting shall be guaranteed.

Everyone has the right to freedom of association with others.

Legal restrictions of these rights shall be permissible where so required for national security or public safety and for protection against the spread of infectious diseases.

Professional members of the defence forces and the police may not be members of political parties.

Article 52. Rights of Disabled Persons

Disabled persons shall be guaranteed protection and work-training in accordance with the law.

Physically or mentally handicapped children and other severely disabled persons have the right to education and training for an active life in society.

The education and training referred to in the preceding paragraph shall be financed from public funds.

Article 54. Rights and Duties of Parents

Parents have the right and duty to maintain, educate and raise their children. This right and duty may be revoked or restricted only for such reasons as are provided by law in order to protect the child's interests.

Children born out of wedlock have the same rights as children born within it.

Article 72. Healthy Living Environment

Everyone has the right in accordance with the law to a healthy living environment.

The state shall promote a healthy living environment. To this end, the conditions and manner in which economic and other activities are pursued shall be established by law.

The law shall establish under which conditions and to what extent a person who has damaged the living environment is obliged to provide compensation.

The protection of animals from cruelty shall be regulated by law.

Article 126. Organisation and Jurisdiction of Courts

The organisation and jurisdiction of courts are determined by law.

Extraordinary courts may not be established, nor may military courts be established in peacetime.

Article 155. Prohibition of Retroactive Effect of Legal Acts

Laws and other regulations and general legal acts cannot have retroactive effect.

Only a law may establish that certain of its provisions have retroactive effect, if this is required in the public interest and provided that no acquired rights are infringed thereby.

by Dunilefra, working for Political Analysis

[dunilefra]

Admirable Articles of Serbia's Constitution

Article 3. Rule of law

Rule of law is a fundamental prerequisite for the Constitution which is based on inalienable human rights.

The rule of law shall be exercised through free and direct elections, constitutional guarantees of human and minority rights, separation of power, independent judiciary and observance of Constitution and Law by the authorities.

Article 11. Secularity of the State

The Republic of Serbia is a secular state.

Churches and religious communities shall be separated from the state.

No religion may be established as state or mandatory religion.

Article 15. Gender equality

The State shall guarantee the equality of women and men and develop equal opportunities policy.

Article 23. Dignity and free development of individuals

Human dignity is inviolable and everyone shall be obliged to respect and protect it.

Everyone shall have the right to free development of his personality if this does not violate the rights of others guaranteed by the Constitution.

Article 24. Right to life

Human life is inviolable.

There shall be no death penalty in the Republic of Serbia.

Cloning of human beings shall be prohibited.

Article 34. Legal certainty in criminal law

No person may be held guilty for any act which did not constitute a criminal offense under law or any other regulation based on the law at the time when it was committed, nor shall a penalty be imposed which was not prescribed for this act.

The penalties shall be determined pursuant to a regulation in force at the time when the act was committed, save when subsequent regulation is more lenient for the perpetrator. Criminal offenses and penalties shall be laid down by the law.

Everyone shall be presumed innocent for a criminal offense until convicted by a final judgment of the court.

No person may be prosecuted or sentenced for a criminal offense for which he has been acquitted or convicted by a final judgment, for which the charges have been rejected or criminal proceedings dismissed by final judgment, nor may court ruling be altered to the detriment of a person charged with criminal offense by extraordinary legal remedy. The same prohibitions shall be applicable to all other proceedings conducted for any other act punishable by law.

In special cases, reopening of proceedings shall be allowed in accordance with criminal legislation if evidence is presented about new facts which could have influenced significantly the outcome of proceedings had they been disclosed at the time of the trial, or if serious miscarriage of justice occurred in the previous proceedings which might have influenced its outcome.

Criminal prosecution or execution of punishment for a war crime, genocide, or crime against humanity shall not be subject to statute of limitation.

Article 40. Inviolability of home

A person's home shall be inviolable.

No one may enter a person's home or other premises against the will of their tenant nor conduct a search in them. The tenant of the home or other premises shall have the right to be present during the search in person or through his legal representative together with two other witnesses who may not be under age.

Entering a person's home or other premises, and in special cases conducting search without witnesses, shall be allowed without a court order if necessary for the purpose of immediate arrest and detention of a perpetrator of a criminal offense or to eliminate direct and grave danger for people or property in a manner stipulated by the law.

Article 44. Churches and religious communities

Churches and religious communities are equal and separated from the state.

Churches and religious communities shall be equal and free to organize independently their internal structure, religious matters, to perform religious rites in public, to establish and manage religious schools, social and charity institutions, in accordance with the law.

Constitutional Court may ban a religious community only if its activities infringe the right to life, right to mental and physical health, the rights of child, right to personal and family integrity, public safety and order, or if it incites religious, national or racial intolerance.

Article 48. Promotion of respect for diversity

The Republic of Serbia shall promote understanding, recognition and respect of diversity arising from specific ethnic, cultural, linguistic or religious identity of its citizens through measures applied in education, culture and public information.

Article 49. Prohibition of inciting racial, ethnic and religious hatred

Any inciting of racial, ethnic, religious or other inequality or hatred shall be prohibited and punishable.

Article 53. Right to participate in management of public affairs

Citizens shall have the right to take part in the management of public affairs and to assume public service and functions under equal conditions.

Article 55. Freedom of association

Freedom of political, union and any other form of association shall be guaranteed, as well as the right to stay out of any association.

Associations shall be formed without prior approval and entered in the register kept by a state body, in accordance with the law.

Secret and paramilitary associations shall be prohibited.

Constitutional Court may ban only such associations the activity of which is aimed at violent overthrow of constitutional order, violation of guaranteed human or minority rights, or inciting of racial, national and religious hatred.

Judges of Constitutional Court, judges, public prosecutors, Defender of Citizens, members of police force and military persons may not be members of political parties.

Article 62. Right to enter into marriage and equality of spouses

Everyone shall have the right to decide freely on entering or dissolving a marriage.

Marriage shall be entered into based on the free consent of man and woman before the state body.

Contracting, duration or dissolution of marriage shall be based on the equality of man and woman.

Marriage, marital and family relations shall be regulated by the law.

Extramarital community shall be equal with marriage, in accordance with the law.

Article 64. Rights of the child

A child shall enjoy human rights suitable to their age and mental maturity.

Every child shall have the right to personal name, entry in the registry of births, the right to learn about its ancestry, and the right to preserve his own identity.

A child shall be protected from psychological, physical, economic and any other form of exploitation or abuse.

A child born out of wedlock shall have the same rights as a child born in wedlock.

Rights of the child and their protection shall be regulated by the law.

Article 66. Special protection of the family, mother, single parent and child

Families, mothers, single parents and any child in the Republic of Serbia shall enjoy special protection in the Republic of Serbia in accordance with the law.

Mothers shall be given special support and protection before and after childbirth.

Special protection shall be provided for children without parental care and mentally or physically handicapped children.

Children under 15 years of age may not be employed, nor may children under 18 years of age be employed at jobs detrimental to their health or morals.

Article 83. Freedom of entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurship shall be permitted.

Entrepreneurship may be restricted by the Law, for the purpose of protection of people's health, environment and natural goods and security of the Republic of Serbia.

Article 120. Replacement of the President of the Republic

When the President of the Republic is prevented from performing his/her duties or his/her term of office ends before the expiry of the period of time for which he or she has been elected, he or she shall be replaced by the Chairman of the National Assembly.

The Chairman of the National Assembly may replace the President of the Republic for maximum three months.

The Chairman of the National Assembly shall be obliged to schedule elections for the President of the Republic so that they are held not later than three months from the beginning of indisposition of the President of the Republic, that is the end of his/her term of office for which he or she has been elected.

Article 126. Incompatibility of functions

Member of the Government may not be a deputy in the National Assembly, deputy in the Assembly of the autonomous province and representative in the Assembly of the local self-government units, nor may he or she be a member of the executive council of the autonomous province or executive body of the local self-government unit.

Other functions, actions or private interests which are incompatible with the position of a member of the Government shall be stipulated by the Law.

Article 152. Incompatibility of judiciary function

A judge shall be prohibited to engage in political actions.

Other functions, actions or private interests which are incompatible with the judiciary function shall be stipulated by the Law.

by Dunilefra, working for Political Reform

[dunilefra]

Admirable Articles of Saudi Arabia's Constitution

Basic Law

Article 15

No concessions shall be awarded or permission given for the utilization of the country's natural resources, except as permitted by the law.

Article 18

The State shall guarantee the freedom and inviolability of private property. Private property shall be not be expropriated unless in the public interest and the confiscatee is fairly compensated.

Article 28

The State shall provide job opportunities to all able-bodied people and shall enact laws to protect both the employee and the employer.

Article 30

The State shall provide public education and shall commit itself to the eradication of illiteracy.

Article 31

The State shall be solicitous for promoting public health and shall provide medical care to every citizen.

Article 32

The State shall seek to conserve, protect and develop the environment and prevent pollution.

Article 37

Houses are inviolable. They shall not be entered without the permission of their owners, nor shall they be searched except in cases specified by the law.

Article 40

All forms of correspondence, whether conveyed by telegraph, post or any other means of communication shall be considered sacrosanct. They may not be confiscated, delayed or read, and telephones may not be tapped except as laid down in the law.

The Law of the Provinces

Article 8

An annual meeting, attended by emirs of provinces and presided over by the Interior Minister, shall be held to discuss the affairs of the provinces. A report to this effect shall be forwarded to the Prince Minister by the Interior Minister.

Article 9

At least two meetings shall be held every year for governors and directors of districts to discuss affairs of the province. The meeting shall be presided over by the emir, who shall submit a report to the Interior Minister. (As amended by the Royal Decree A/21, dated 30/3/1414 H).

Article 11

Emirs of provinces, governors of governorates and directors of districts shall reside in their work areas. They shall not be allowed to leave without permission from their direct superiors. (As amended by the Royal Decree A/21, dated 30/3/1414 H).

by Dunilefra, working for Political Analysis

[dunilefra]

Admirable Articles of Sao Tome and Principe's Constitution

Article 26. Family, Marriage and Relationships

All have the right to form a family and to enter into matrimony in conditions of full equality.

The law regulates the requirements and effects of marriage and of its dissolution, by death or divorce, independent from the form in which it was celebrated.

Spouses have equal rights with respect to civil or political competency and to the maintenance and education of their children.

Children born out of wedlock cannot, for that reason, be the object of any discrimination.

Parents have the right and duty of educating and maintaining their children.

Article 27. Freedom of conscience, religion and worship

Freedom of conscience, religion and worship is inviolable.

No one may be persecuted, deprived of right or exempted from civic obligations or duties because of his convictions or practice of religion.

No one may be questioned by any authority about his convictions or religious practices except for the collection of statistical data not individually identifiable nor be prejudiced for refusing to answer.

Religious confessions are free in worship, in education and in their organization.

Article 31. The right to learn and the freedom to teach

The right to learn and the freedom to teach are guaranteed.

The State may not reserve for itself the right to plan education and culture according to any philosophical, political, ideological or religious policies.

Article 38. Limits of sentences and of security measures (Part of it)

There may be no punishments nor security measures which deprive or restrict liberty which are of a perpetual, unlimited duration or undefined nature.

Article 40. Guarantees of criminal procedure

Criminal procedure will assure all the defense guarantees.

Every accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty, being tried in the shortest time compatible with defense guarantees.

The accused has the right to choose defense counsel and to be assisted by him in all the acts of the trial, the law specifying the instances and the aspects in which that assistance is obligatory.

Every instruction is within the competence of a Magistrate, who may, within the terms of the law, delegate to other entities the practice of instructional acts which do not directly affect fundamental rights.

Criminal procedure has an accusatory structure with the hearing of the trial and the instructional acts subordinated to the principle of cross-examination.

All evidence obtained through torture, coercion or offense to the physical or moral integrity of the person, abusive intromission into private life, in the home, in correspondence or in telecommunications are null.

No case may be removed from the court whose competence has been established in prior law.

Article 43. Rights of workers

All the workers have rights:

To recompense for work, according to quantity, nature and quality, observing the principal of equal salary for equal work, so as to guarantee a deserved living;

To labor-union freedom, as a means of promoting their unity, defending their legitimate rights and protecting their interests;

To the organization of work in socially dignifying conditions, in order to facilitate personal accomplishment;

To being able to perform work in hygienic and safe conditions;

To a maximum limit to the work day, to weekly rest and to periodic paid holidays;

To strike, under terms to be regulated by law, taking into account the interests of the workers and of the National economy.

Article 44. Social Security

The State guarantees to every citizen, through the social security system, the right to protection in illness, handicap, widowhood, orphanhood and other instances prescribed in the law;

The organization of the system of social security of the State does not prejudice the existence of private institutions, with the implementation in mind of the objectives of Social Security.

Article 46. Intellectual property

The State protects the inherent rights to intellectual property, including the rights of the author.

Article 122. Decisions of the courts

The decisions of the courts are founded upon the cases and in the terms prescribed in the law.

The decisions of the courts are obligatory for all public and private entities and prevail over those of any other authorities.

Article 123. Hearing of the courts

The hearings of the courts are public except when the court itself decides to the contrary, in well-founded decision, in order to safeguard the dignity of the individuals and of the public moral or to guarantee their normal operation.

by Dunilefra, working for World Politics

[dunilefra]

Admirable Articles of Rwanda's Constitution

Article 1. Source of National sovereignty

All power derives from Rwandans and is exercised in accordance with this Constitution.

No individual or section of people can arrogate to themselves the exercise of power.

National sovereignty belongs to Rwandans who exercise it directly by means of referendum, elections, or through their representatives.

Article 2. Suffrage

Suffrage is universal and equal for all Rwandans.

All Rwandans, both men and women, fulfilling the requirements provided for by law, have the right to vote and to be elected.

Suffrage is direct or indirect and secret, unless this Constitution or any other law provides otherwise.

An organic law governing elections determines conditions and modalities for conducting elections.

Article 3. Supremacy of the Constitution

The Constitution is the supreme law of the country.

Any law, decision or act contrary to this Constitution is without effect.

Article 12. Right to life

Everyone has the right to life.

No one shall be arbitrarily deprived of life.

Article 14. Right to physical and mental integrity

Everyone has the right to physical and mental integrity.

No one shall be subjected to torture or physical abuse, or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment.

No one shall be subjected to experimentation without his or her informed consent.

Modalities of the consent and experiments are determined by law.

Article 15. Equality before the law

All persons are equal before the law. They are entitled to equal protection of the law.

Article 16. Protection from discrimination

All Rwandans are born and remain equal in rights and freedoms.

Discrimination of any kind or its propaganda based on, inter alia, ethnic origin, family or ancestry, clan, skin colour or race, sex, region, economic categories, religion or faith, opinion, fortune, cultural differences, language, economic status, physical or mental disability or any other form of discrimination are prohibited and punishable by law.

Article 20. Right to education

Every Rwandan has the right to education.

Freedom of learning and teaching is guaranteed in accordance with conditions determined by law.

Primary education is compulsory and free in public schools.

Conditions for free primary education in schools subsidised by the Government are determined by law.

A law also determines the organisation of education.

Article 23. Respect for privacy of a person and of family

The privacy of a person, his or her family, home or correspondence shall not be subjected to interference in a manner inconsistent with the law; the person's honour and dignity shall be respected.

A person's home is inviolable. No search or entry into a home shall be carried out without the consent of the owner, except in circumstances and in accordance with procedures determined by the law.

Confidentiality of correspondence and communication shall not be waived except in circumstances and in accordance with procedures determined by the law.

Article 29. Right to due process of law (Part of it)

Everyone has the right to due process of law, which includes the right:

to be informed of the nature and cause of charges and the right to defence and legal representation;

to be presumed innocent until proved guilty by a competent Court;

to appear before a competent Court;

not to be subjected to prosecution, arrest, detention or punishment on account of any act or omission which did not constitute an offence under national or international law at the time it was committed. Offences and their penalties are determined by law;

not to be held liable for an offence he or she did not commit. Criminal liability is personal;

not to be punished for an offence with a penalty that is severer than the penalty provided for by the law at the time that offence was committed;

not to be imprisoned merely on the ground of inability to fulfil a contractual obligation;

not to be prosecuted or punished for a crime which has reached its statute of limitations. However, the crime of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes are not subject to statute of limitations. A law may determine other crimes which are not subject to statute of limitations.

Article 37. Freedom of conscience and religion

Freedom of thought, conscience, religion, worship and public manifestation thereof is guaranteed by the State in accordance with the law.

Propagation of ethnic, regional, racial discrimination or any other form of division is punished by law.

Article 39. Right to freedom of association

The right to freedom of association is guaranteed and does not require prior authorisation.

This right is exercised under conditions determined by law.

Article 40. Right to freedom of assembly

The right to freedom of peaceful and unarmed assembly is guaranteed.

This right is exercised in accordance with the law.

This right does not require prior authorisation, except when provided for by the law.

Article 46. Maintaining of good relations with others

Every Rwandan has the duty to respect and consider his or her fellow beings without discrimination, and to maintain relations aimed at safeguarding, promoting and reinforcing mutual respect, solidarity and tolerance

Article 49. Respect of the Constitution and other laws

Every Rwandan has the duty to respect the Constitution and the other laws of the country.

Every Rwandan has the right to defy superior orders if they constitute a serious and obvious violation of human rights and freedoms.

Article 54. Recognition of political organisations

A multiparty system is recognised.

Political organisations fulfilling the conditions required by law may be formed and operate freely.

Duly registered political oganisations receive State grants.

An organic law determines the modalities for the establishment and functioning of political organisations, the conduct of their leaders, and the process of receiving State grants.

Article 55. Freedom to join a political organisation

Every Rwandan has a right to join a political organisation of his or her choice, or not to join any.

No Rwandan shall be subject to discrimination on grounds of membership in a given political organisation, or non-membership in a political organisation.

Article 57. Prohibitions for political organisations

Political organisations are prohibited from basing themselves on race, ethnic group, tribe, lineage, region, sex, religion or any other division which may lead to discrimination.

Article 61. Branches of Government

Branches of Government are the following:

The Legislature

The Executive

The Judiciary

The three branches are separate and independent from each other but are all complementary. Their responsibilities, organisation and functioning are defined by this Constitution.

The State must ensure that duties in the Legislature, Executive and Judiciary are entrusted to persons of competence and integrity.

Article 74. Autonomy of each Chamber of Parliament

Each Chamber of Parliament has its own budget and enjoys financial and administrative autonomy.

Article 95. Hierarchy of laws

The hierarchy of laws is as follows:

Constitution;

organic law;

international treaties and agreements ratified by Rwanda;

ordinary law;

orders.

A law cannot contradict another law that is higher in hierarchy.

Organic laws are those designated as such and empowered by this Constitution to regulate other key matters in the place of the Constitution.

Article 101. Term of office of the President of the Republic

The President of the Republic is elected for a five (5) year term. He or she may be re-elected once.

Article 104. Presidential transition

The incumbent President of the Republic remains in office until the President-elect assumes office.

However, the incumbent President cannot, during this transitional period, exercise the following powers:

declare war;

declare a state of siege or a state of emergency;

call a referendum;

grant mercy to persons definitively sentenced by Courts of law.

Similarly, the Constitution cannot be amended during that period.

In case the President-elect dies, is permanently unable to assume office or chooses not to take office, new elections are organised.

Article 138. Parliament during a state of siege or state of emergency

During the state of siege or state of emergency, the Chamber of Deputies cannot be dissolved and both Chambers of Parliament are recalled immediately if they are in recess.

If at the date of a declaration of a state of siege or state of emergency the Chamber of Deputies has previously been dissolved or its term of office has ended, powers of Parliament relating to a state of siege or state of emergency are exercised by the Senate.

by Dunilefra, working for Political Reform

[dunilefra]

Admirable Articles of Russia's Constitution

Article 7

The Russian Federation shall be a social state whose policy is aimed at creating conditions ensuring a worthy life and a free development of Man.

In the Russian Federation the labour and health of people shall be protected, a guaranteed minimum wage shall be established, State support shall be provided for the family, maternity, fatherhood and childhood, to the disabled and to elderly citizens, the system of social services shall be developed and State pensions, allowances and other social security guarantees shall be established.

Article 14

The Russian Federation shall be a secular state. No religion may be established as the State religion or as obligatory.

Religious associations shall be separate from the State and shall be equal before the law.

Article 15 (Part of it)

The Constitution of the Russian Federation shall have supreme legal force, direct effect and shall be applicable on the entire territory of the Russian Federation. Laws and other legal acts, which are adopted in the Russian Federation, must not contradict the Constitution of the Russian Federation.

Article 19

All persons shall be equal before the law and the court.

The State guarantees the equality of human and civil rights and freedoms regardless of sex, race, nationality, language, origin, material and official status, place of residence, attitude to religion, convictions, membership of public associations, or of other circumstances. All forms of limitations of human rights on social, racial, national, language or religious grounds shall be prohibited.

Men and women shall enjoy equal rights and freedoms and equal opportunities to exercise them.

Article 21

Human dignity shall be protected by the State. Nothing may serve as a basis for its derogation.

Nobody should be subjected to torture, violence, or other severe or humiliating treatment or punishment. Nobody may be subjected to medical, scientific or other experiments without voluntary consent.

Article 22

Everyone shall have the right to freedom and personal inviolability.

Arrest, detention and keeping in custody shall be permissible only under a court order. A person may not be detained for more than 48 hours without a court order.

Article 23

Everyone shall have the right to the inviolability of his (her) private life, personal and family privacy, and protection of his (her) honour and good name.

Everyone shall have the right to privacy of correspondence, of telephone conversations and of postal, telegraph and other communications. This right may be limited only on the basis of a court order.

Article 24

Collecting, keeping, using and disseminating information about the private life of a person shall not be permitted without his (her) consent.

State government bodies and local self-government bodies and their officials shall be obliged to provide everyone with access to documents and materials directly affecting his (her) rights and freedoms, unless otherwise envisaged by law.

Article 29

Everyone shall be guaranteed freedom of thought and speech.

Propaganda or agitation, which arouses social, racial, national or religious hatred and hostility shall be prohibited. Propaganda of social, racial, national, religious or linguistic supremacy shall also be prohibited.

Nobody shall be forced to express his thoughts and convictions or to deny them.

Everyone shall have the right freely to seek, receive, transmit, produce and disseminate information by any legal means. The list of types of information, which constitute State secrets, shall be determined by federal law.

The freedom of the mass media shall be guaranteed. Censorship shall be prohibited.

Article 31

Citizens of the Russian Federation shall have the right to assemble peacefully, without weapons, hold rallies, mass meetings and demonstrations, marches and pickets.

Article 34

Everyone shall have the right to use freely his (her) abilities and property for entrepreneurial and other economic activity not prohibited by law.

Economic activity aimed at monopolization and unfair competition shall not be permitted.

Article 38

Maternity, childhood and family shall be protected by the State.

Care for children and their upbringing shall be the equal right and duty of parents.

Able-bodied children over 18 years of age must take care of disabled parents.

Article 39

Everyone shall be guaranteed social security for old age, in case of illness, disability and loss of the breadwinner, for the bringing up of children and in other cases specified by law.

State pensions and social benefits shall be established by law.

Voluntary social insurance, the creation of additional forms of social security and charity shall be encouraged.

Article 40

Everyone shall have the right to a home. Nobody may be arbitrarily deprived of his (her) home.

State government bodies and local self-government bodies shall promote housing construction and create conditions for exercising the right to a home.

Low-income citizens and other citizens mentioned in law who are in need of a home may receive it either free of charge or for an affordable payment from State, municipal and other housing funds according to the norms established by law.

Article 43

Everyone shall have the right to education.

General access and free pre-school, secondary and secondary vocational education in State and municipal educational institutions and at enterprises shall be guaranteed.

Everyone shall have the right to receive on a competitive basis free higher education in State and municipal educational institutions and at enterprises.

Basic general education shall be compulsory. Parents or guardians shall ensure that children receive a basic general education.

The Russian Federation shall establish federal State educational standards and shall support various forms of education and self-education.

Article 44

Everyone shall be guaranteed the freedom of literary, artistic, scientific, technical and other types of creative activity and teaching. Intellectual property shall be protected by law.

Everyone shall have the right to participate in cultural life and use cultural establishments, and the right of access to cultural valuables.

Everyone shall be obliged to care for the preservation of the cultural and historical heritage, and to protect monuments of history and culture.

Article 49

Any person accused of committing a crime shall be considered innocent until his (her) guilt is proven in accordance with the procedure stipulated by federal law and is confirmed by a court sentence which has entered into legal force.

The accused shall not be obliged to prove his (her) innocence.

Irremovable doubts about the guilt of a person shall be interpreted in favour of the accused.

Article 53

Everyone shall have the right to State compensation for damage caused by unlawful actions (inaction) of State government bodies and their officials.

Article 98

Members of the Council of Federation and deputies of the State Duma shall enjoy immunity during the whole term of their office. They may not be detained, arrested or searched, except in the event of detention at the scene of a crime. They may not be subjected to personal searches, except in instances where this is provided for by federal law in order to ensure the safety of other people.

The issue of the removal of immunity shall be resolved by an appropriate chamber of the Federal Assembly upon submission of the Prosecutor General of the Russian Federation.

Article 124

Courts shall be financed only from the federal budget and should ensure the possibility of the complete and independent administration of justice according to the requirements of federal law.

by Dunilefra, working for World Order

[dunilefra]

Admirable Articles of Romania's Constitution

Article 2. Sovereignty

National sovereignty shall reside within the Romanian people which shall exercise it through its representative bodies, resulting from free, periodical and fair elections, as well as by referendum.

No group or individual may exercise sovereignty on its own behalf.

Article 4. The Unity of the People and Equality Among Citizens

The State is founded upon the unity of the Romanian people and the solidarity of its citizens.

Romania is the common and indivisible homeland of all its citizens regardless of race, ethnic origin, language, religion, sex, opinion, political allegiance, wealth, or social origin.

Article 16. Equality of Rights (Part of it)

Citizens are equal before the law and before public authorities, with no privileges and with no discrimination.

No one is above the law.

Article 22. The Right to Life and to Physical and Mental Well-Being (Part of it)

A person's right to life and to physical and mental well-being are guaranteed.

No one shall be subjected to torture or to any kind of inhuman or degrading punishment or treatment.

Article 27. Inviolability of Domiciles (Part of it)

The domicile and the residence are inviolable. No one may enter or stay in the domicile or residence of a person without the latter's consent.

A derogation from the provisions of paragraph 1 may be made, in accordance with the law, for the following purposes:

in order to execute an arrest warrant or a court decree;

in order to remove a threat to a person's life, physical integrity, or property assets;

in order to defend national security or public order;

in order to prevent the spread of an epidemic.

Searches may only be ordered by a judge and have to be carried out in the terms and forms established by the law.

Article 29. Freedom of Conscience

Freedom of thought and opinion, as well as the freedom of religious belief, may not be restricted in any way. No one can be forced to adopt an opinion or to espouse a religious belief contrary to his/her convictions.

Freedom of conscience is guaranteed; it must be expressed in a spirit of tolerance and mutual respect.

All religions are free and organized in accordance with their own statutes, under the terms defined by the law.

All forms, means, acts, or actions of religious enmity are prohibited in the relationship between the cults.

The religious sects are autonomous in relation to the state and enjoy its support, which includes measures facilitating religious assistance in the Army, in hospitals, penitentiaries, asylums, and orphanages.

Parents or guardians have the right to ensure, in accordance with their own convictions, the education of minor children for whom they are responsible.

Article 34. The Right to Health Care

The right to health care is guaranteed.

The state is obliged to take measures to ensure hygiene and public health.

The organization of the medical care and social insurance systems in case of illness, accidents, childbirth, and recovery, the supervision of the exercise of the medical professions and of paramedical activities, as well as other measures for the protection of the individual's physical and mental health are established by law.

Article 42. The Prohibition of Forced Labor

Forced labor is prohibited.

The following do not constitute forced labor:

activities in the military service or activities which, in accordance with the law, are carried out in lieu thereof due to religious or conscience-related reasons;

work which is carried in normal conditions by a person which has received a sentence during detention or conditional release;

activities necessary in order to deal with a natural disaster or some other danger, or which result from normal civil obligations established by law.

Article 47. The Standard of Living

The state is obliged to take measures for economic development and social protection which will ensure that citizens have a decent standard of living.

Citizens have the right to pensions, paid maternity leave, medical care in public health centers, unemployment benefits, and other forms of public or private social security, as provided by the law. Citizens have the right to social assistance in accordance with the law.

Article 48. The Family

The family is based on a freely consented marriage by the spouses, their full equality, and the right and duty of the parents to raise, educate, and instruct their children.

The conditions in which marriages may be contracted, dissolved, and annulled are established by law. A religious marriage ceremony can be celebrated only after the civil ceremony.

Children born outside marriage enjoy equal rights as those born in marriage.

Article 49. Protection of Children and Youth

Children and youth will enjoy special protection and assistance in realizing their rights.

The state shall grant benefits for children and provide aid for the care of sick or handicapped children. Other forms of social protection for children and youth shall be determined by law.

The exploitation of minors and their employment in activities which might be harmful to their health or morals or which might endanger their life or normal development are prohibited.

Minors under the age of 15 cannot be hired as employees.

Public authorities have the duty to contribute to ensuring conditions for the free participation of the youth in the political, social, economic, cultural, and sports life of the country.

Article 50. Protection of Disabled Persons

Disabled persons shall enjoy special protection. The State shall ensure the implementation of a national policy of equal opportunities, disability prevention and treatment, so that disabled persons can take part effectively in community life, while respecting the rights and obligations of their parents or legal guardians.

Article 52. The Rights of Persons Suffering Damage at the Hands of Public Authority

Any person whose rights or legitimate interests have been infringed by a public authority, through an administrative act or as a result of the failure to have a request resolved within the period prescribed by law, is entitled to have the right in question or the legitimate interest recognized and the act annulled and to receive compensation for the damages.

The conditions and limitations for the exercise of this right will be determined by statutory law.

The State is financially liable for any damages caused by judicial errors. The State liability is established under the terms defined by the law and does not exclude the liability of those judges who have acted in bad faith or were grossly negligent.

Article 55. The Defense of the Country

Citizens have the right and obligation to defend Romania.

The terms for the fulfillment of the military duties are established by organic law.

Citizens may be conscripted from the age of 20 and up to the age of 35, except for volunteers, under the terms established by the organic law.

Article 68. Public Nature of the Sessions

The sessions of the two Chambers are public.

The Chambers can decide to hold certain sessions in camera.

Article 113. Censure Motion

The Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, in joint session, can withdraw the confidence given to the Government by passing a censure motion by the vote of a majority of the deputies and senators.

The censure motion can be initiated by at least one-fourth of the total number of deputies and senators and is communicated to the Government on the date that it is tabled.

The censure motion is discussed three days after it is tabled in the joint session of the two houses.

If the censure motion is rejected, the deputies and senators who signed it cannot initiate another censure motion in the same session, with the exception of the case in which the Government assumes responsibility in accordance with Article 114.

Article 136. Property

Property may be public or private.

Public property is guaranteed and protected by the law and belongs to the State or the territorial-administrative units.

The mineral resources which are of public interest, the airspace, water resources that can be used for power production in the public interest, beaches, the territorial sea, the natural resources of the economic zone and the continental shelf as well as other assets defined by law constitute exclusive public property.

Public property is non-transferable. Under the terms of the organic law, public property can be managed by autonomous entities or public institutions, or can be licensed or leased; it can also be transferred to public utility institutions for free use.

Private property is inviolable in accordance with the organic law.

[dunilefra]

Admirable Articles of Qatar's Constitution

Article 23

The State takes care of public health and provides the means of protection and treatment from diseases and epidemics, according to law.

Article 25

Education is one of the basic pillars for the progress of society. The State sponsors and takes care of it, and endeavors to spread it and make it public.

Article 27

Private property is inviolable. No one can be deprived of his property, save for public utility and in the cases prescribed by law and in the manner provided for therein provided that he is fairly compensated.

Article 31

The State encourages investment and endeavors to provide guarantees and facilities needed to it.

Article 34

Citizens are equal in public rights and duties.

Article 35

People are equal before the law. There shall be no discrimination against them because of sex, race, language, or religion.

Article 39

The accused is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, where the due processes of the law are provided and secured for the practice of defense.

by Dunilefra, working for World Politics

[dunilefra]

Admirable Articles of Portugal's Constitution

Article 3. Sovereignty and legality (Part of it)

The state shall be subject to this Constitution and shall be based on the democratic rule of law.

Article 12. Principle of universality

Every citizen shall enjoy the rights and be subject to the duties enshrined in this Constitution.

Bodies corporate shall enjoy such rights and be subject to such duties as are compatible with their nature.

Article 19. Suspension of the exercise of rights (Part of it)

Declarations of a state of siege or a state of emergency shall grant the public authorities the power and responsibility to take the appropriate steps needed to promptly restore constitutional normality.

Article 20. Access to law and effective judicial protection (Part of it)

Everyone shall be guaranteed access to the law and the courts in order to defend those of his rights and interests that are protected by law, and justice shall not be denied to anyone due to lack of financial means.

The law shall define and ensure adequate protection of the secrecy of legal proceedings.

Everyone shall possess the right to secure a ruling in any suit to which he is a party, within a reasonable period of time and by means of fair process.

Article 26. Other personal rights

Everyone shall possess the right to a personal identity, to the development of their personality, to civil capacity, to citizenship, to a good name and reputation, to their likeness, to speak out, to protect the privacy of their personal and family life, and to legal protection against any form of discrimination.

The law shall lay down effective guarantees against the procurement and misuse of information concerning persons and families and its use contrary to human dignity.

The law shall guarantee the personal dignity and genetic identity of the human person, particularly in the creation, development and use of technologies and in scientific experimentation.

Deprivation of citizenship and restrictions on civil capacity may only occur in such cases and under such terms as may be provided for by law, and shall not be based on political motives.

Article 29. Application of criminal law (Part of it)

No one shall be sentenced under the criminal law unless the action or omission in question is punishable under the terms of a pre-existing law, nor shall any person be the object of a security measure unless the prerequisites therefore are laid down by a pre-existing law.

Article 30. Limits on sentences and security measures (Part of it)

Criminal liability shall not be transferable.

Article 37. Freedom of expression and information

Everyone shall possess the right to freely express and publicise his thoughts in words, images or by any other means, as well as the right to inform others, inform himself and be informed without hindrance or discrimination.

Exercise of the said rights shall not be hindered or limited by any type or form of censorship.

Infractions committed in the exercise of the said rights shall be subject to the general principles of the criminal law or the law governing administrative offences, and shall be brought before the courts of law or an independent administrative body respectively, as laid down by law.

Every person and body corporate shall be equally and effectively guaranteed the right of reply and to make corrections, as well as the right to compensation for damages suffered.

Article 42. Freedom of cultural creation

Intellectual, artistic and scientific creation shall not be restricted.

This freedom shall comprise the right to invent, produce and publicise scientific, literary and artistic works and shall include the protection of copyright by law.

Article 46. Freedom of association

Citizens shall possess the right to freely associate with one another without requiring any authorisation, on condition that such associations are not intended to promote violence and their purposes are not contrary to the criminal law.

Associations shall pursue their purposes freely and without interference from the public authorities and shall not be dissolved by the state or have their activities suspended, except in such cases as the law may provide for and then only by judicial order.

No one shall be obliged to belong to an association, or be coerced to remain therein by any means.

Armed associations, military, militarised or paramilitary-type associations and organisations that are racist or display a fascist ideology shall not be permitted.

Article 48. Participation in public life

Every citizen shall possess the right to take part in political life and the direction of the country's public affairs, either directly or via freely elected representatives.

Every citizen shall possess the right to be given objective clarifications about the actions of the state and of other public bodies and to be informed by the Government and other authorities about the management of public affairs.

Article 51. Political associations and parties

Freedom of association shall include the right to form or take part in political associations and parties and through them to work jointly and democratically towards the formation of the popular will and the organisation of political power.

No one shall be simultaneously registered as a member of more than one political party, and no one shall be deprived of the exercise of any right because he is or ceases to be registered as a member of any legally constituted party.

Without prejudice to the philosophy or ideology that underlies their manifestoes, political parties shall not employ names that contain expressions which are directly related to any religion or church, or emblems that can be confused with national or religious symbols.

No party shall be formed with a name or manifesto that possesses a regional nature or scope.

Political parties shall be governed by the principles of transparency, democratic organisation and management, and participation by all their members.

The law shall lay down the rules governing the financing of political parties, particularly as regards the requirements for and limits on public funding, as well as the requirements to publicise their assets and accounts.

Article 54. Workers' committees

Workers shall possess the right to form workers' committees to defend their interests and democratically intervene in company life.

Decisions to form workers' committees shall be taken by the workers in question, who shall approve the committees' by-laws and shall elect their members by direct, secret ballot.

Coordinating committees may be created with a view to improving intervention in economic restructuring and to guaranteeing workers' interests.

Committee members shall enjoy the legal protection accorded to trade union delegates.

Workers' committees shall possess the right:

To receive all the information needed to perform their tasks;

To monitor the management of businesses;

To participate in corporate restructuring processes, especially in relation to training actions or when working conditions are altered;

To take part in drawing up labour legislation and economic and social plans that address their sector;

To manage, or participate in the management of, businesses' social activities;

To promote the election of workers' representatives to the management bodies of businesses that belong to the state or other public bodies, as laid down by law.

Article 55. Freedoms concerning trade unions (Part of it)

Workers shall be free to form and operate trade unions as a condition and guarantee of the building of their unity in defence of their rights and interests.

In exercising their freedom to form and operate trade unions, workers shall particularly be guaranteed the following, without any discrimination:

Freedom to form trade unions at every level;

Freedom of membership. No worker shall be obliged to pay dues to a union to which he does not belong;

Freedom to determine the organisation and internal regulations of trade unions;

The right to engage in trade union activities in businesses;

The right to political views, in the forms laid down in the respective by-laws.

Trade unions shall be governed by the principles of democratic organisation and management, to be based on periodic elections of their managing bodies by secret ballot, without the need for any authorisation or homologation, and shall be founded on active worker participation in every aspect of trade union activity.

Trade unions shall be independent of employers, the state, religious denominations, and parties and other political associations, and the law shall lay down such guarantees as may be appropriate to that independence, which is fundamental to the unity of the working classes.

Workers' elected representatives shall enjoy the right to be informed and consulted, as well as to adequate legal protection against any form of subjection to conditions, constraints or limitations in the legitimate exercise of their functions.

Article 58. Right to work

Everyone shall possess the right to work.

In order to ensure the right to work, the state shall be charged with promoting:

The implementation of full-employment policies;

Equal opportunities in the choice of profession or type of work, and the conditions needed to avoid the gender-based preclusion or limitation of access to any position, work or professional category;

Cultural and technical training and vocational development for workers.

Article 59. Workers' rights

Regardless of age, sex, race, citizenship, place of origin, religion and political and ideological convictions, every worker shall possess the right:

To the remuneration of his work in accordance with its volume, nature and quality, with respect for the principle of equal pay for equal work and in such a way as to guarantee a proper living;

That work be organised in keeping with social dignity and in such a way as to provide personal fulfilment and to make it possible to reconcile professional and family life;

To work in conditions that are hygienic, safe and healthy;

To rest and leisure time, a maximum limit on the working day, a weekly rest period and periodic paid holidays;

To material assistance when he involuntarily finds himself unemployed;

To assistance and fair reparation when he is the victim of a work-related accident or occupational illness.

The state shall be charged with ensuring the working, remuneratory and rest-related conditions to which workers are entitled, particularly by:

Setting and updating a national minimum wage which, among other factors, shall have particular regard to workers' needs, increases in the cost of living, the level to which the sectors of production have developed, the requirements imposed by economic and financial stability, and the accumulation of capital for development purposes;

Setting national limits on working hours;

Ensuring special work-related protection for women during pregnancy and following childbirth, as well as for minors, the disabled and those whose occupations are particularly strenuous or take place in unhealthy, toxic or dangerous conditions;

In cooperation with social organisations, ensuring the systematic development of a network of rest and holiday centres;

Protecting emigrant workers' working conditions and guaranteeing their social benefits;

Protecting student workers' working conditions.

Salaries shall enjoy special guarantees, as laid down by law.

Article 60. Consumer rights

Consumers shall possess the right to the good quality of the goods and services consumed, to training and information, to the protection of health, safety and their economic interests, and to reparation for damages.

Advertising shall be regulated by law and all forms of concealed, indirect or fraudulent advertising shall be prohibited.

Consumers' associations and consumer cooperatives shall possess the right, as laid down by law, to receive support from the state and to be heard in relation to consumer-protection issues, and shall possess legitimatio ad causam in defence of their members or of any collective or general interests.

Article 63. Social security and solidarity (Part of it)

Everyone shall have the right to social security.

The state shall be charged with organising, coordinating and subsidising a unified and decentralised social security system, with the participation of the trade unions, other organisations that represent workers and associations that represent any other beneficiaries.

The social security system shall protect citizens in illness and old age and when they are disabled, widowed or orphaned, as well as when they are unemployed or in any other situation that entails a lack of or reduction in means of subsistence or ability to work.

All periods of work shall, as laid down by law, contribute to the calculation of old age and disability pensions, regardless of the sector of activity in which they were performed.

Article 64. Health

Everyone shall possess the right to health protection and the duty to defend and promote health.

The right to health protection shall be fulfilled:

By means of a national health service that shall be universal and general and, with particular regard to the economic and social conditions of the citizens who use it, shall tend to be free of charge;

By creating economic, social, cultural and environmental conditions that particularly guarantee the protection of childhood, youth and old age; by systematically improving living and working conditions and also promoting physical fitness and sport at school and among the people; and by developing both the people's health and hygiene education and healthy living practises.

In order to ensure enjoyment of the right to the protection of health, the state shall be under a primary duty:

To guarantee access by every citizen, regardless of his economic situation, to preventive, curative and rehabilitative medical care;

To guarantee a rational and efficient nationwide coverage in terms of healthcare units and human resources;

To work towards the public funding of the costs of medical care and medicines;

To regulate and inspect corporate and private forms of medicine and articulate them with the national health service, in such a way as to ensure adequate standards of efficiency and quality in both public and private healthcare institutions;

To regulate and control the production, distribution, marketing, sale and use of chemical, biological and pharmaceutical products and other means of treatment and diagnosis;

To establish policies for the prevention and treatment of drug abuse.

The national health service shall possess a decentralised and participatory management system.

Article 65. Housing and urban planning (Part of it)

Everyone shall possess the right for themselves and their family to have an adequately sized dwelling that provides them with hygienic and comfortable conditions and preserves personal and family privacy.

In order to ensure enjoyment of the right to housing, the state shall be charged with:

Planning and implementing a housing policy that is embodied in general town and country planning documents and supported by urban planning documents that guarantee the existence of an adequate network of transport and social facilities;

In cooperation with the autonomous regions and local authorities, promoting the construction of low-cost and social housing;

Stimulating private construction, subject to the general interest, and access to owned or rented housing;

Encouraging and supporting local community initiatives that work towards the resolution of their housing problems and foster the formation of housing and self-building cooperatives.

The state shall undertake a policy that works towards the establishment of a rental system which is compatible with family incomes and access to individual housing.

Interested parties shall be entitled to participate in the drawing up of urban planning instruments and any other physical town and country planning instruments.

Article 84. Public domain (Part of it)

The following shall belong to the public domain:

Territorial waters, together with their beds and the adjacent seabed, and such lakes, lagoons and watercourses as are suitable for navigation or flotation, together with their beds;

Airspace over Portuguese territory, above the recognised limit for proprietary or surface rights;

Mineral deposits, mineral and medicinal water sources and natural subterranean cavities below the ground, save such rocks, ordinary earth and other materials as may habitually be used for construction;

Roads;

National railway lines;

Such other property as may be classified as such by law.

Article 117. Status of political officeholders

Political officeholders shall be politically, civilly and criminally liable for their actions and omissions in the exercise of their functions.

The law shall lay down both the duties, responsibilities, liabilities and incompatibilities of political office and the consequences of any breach thereof, and the rights, privileges and immunities that apply thereto.

The law shall specify the special crimes for which political officeholders may be held liable, together with the applicable penalties and the effects thereof, which may include removal from office or loss of seat.

Article 118. Renewal principle

No one shall hold any national, regional or local political office for life.

The law may specify limits on successive renewals of mandates of holders of executive political office.

Article 123. Eligibility for re-election

Re-election to a third consecutive term of office, or during the five years immediately following the end of a second consecutive term of office, shall not be permitted.

In the event that the President of the Republic resigns, he shall not stand again in the next elections, or in any that take place in the five years immediately following his resignation.

Article 254. Share in revenue from direct taxes

Municipalities shall share in the revenue from direct taxes by right and as laid down by law.

Municipalities shall possess their own tax revenues, as laid down by law.

by Dunilefra, working for Political Reform

[dunilefra]

Admirable Articles of Poland's Constitution

Article 18

Marriage, being a union of a man and a woman, as well as the family, motherhood and parenthood, shall be placed under the protection and care of the Republic of Poland.

Article 32

● All persons shall be equal before the law. All persons shall have the right to equal treatment by public authorities.

● No one shall be discriminated against in political, social or economic life for any reason whatsoever.

Article 33

● Men and women shall have equal rights in family, political, social and economic life in the Republic of Poland.

● Men and women shall have equal rights, in particular, regarding education, employment and promotion, and shall have the right to equal compensation for work of similar value, to social security, to hold offices, and to receive public honours and decorations.

Article 39

No one shall be subjected to scientific experimentation, including medical experimentation, without his voluntary consent.

Article 53

● Freedom of faith and religion shall be ensured to everyone.

● Freedom of religion shall include the freedom to profess or to accept a religion by personal choice as well as to manifest such religion, either individually or collectively, publicly or privately, by worshipping, praying, participating in ceremonies, performing of rites or teaching. Freedom of religion shall also include possession of sanctuaries and other places of worship for the satisfaction of the needs of believers as well as the right of individuals, wherever they may be, to benefit from religious services.

● Parents shall have the right to ensure their children a moral and religious upbringing and teaching in accordance with their convictions. The provisions of Article 48, para. 1 shall apply as appropriate.

● The religion of a church or other legally recognized religious organization may be taught in schools, but other peoples' freedom of religion and conscience shall not be infringed thereby.

● The freedom to publicly express religion may be limited only by means of statute and only where this is necessary for the defence of State security, public order, health, morals or the freedoms and rights of others.

● No one shall be compelled to participate or not participate in religious practices.

● No one may be compelled by organs of public authority to disclose his philosophy of life, religious convictions or belief.

Article 54

● The freedom to express opinions, to acquire and to disseminate information shall be ensured to everyone.

● Preventive censorship of the means of social communication and the licensing of the press shall be forbidden. Statutes may require the receipt of a permit for the operation of a radio or television station.

Article 67

● A citizen shall have the right to social security whenever incapacitated for work by reason of sickness or invalidism as well as having attained retirement age. The scope and forms of social security shall be specified by statute.

● A citizen who is involuntarily without work and has no other means of support, shall have the right to social security, the scope of which shall be specified by statute.

Article 68

● Everyone shall have the right to have his health protected.

● Equal access to health care services, financed from public funds, shall be ensured by public authorities to citizens, irrespective of their material situation. The conditions for, and scope of, the provision of services shall be established by statute.

● Public authorities shall ensure special health care to children, pregnant women, handicapped people and persons of advanced age.

● Public authorities shall combat epidemic illnesses and prevent the negative health consequences of degradation of the environment.

● Public authorities shall support the development of physical culture, particularly amongst children and young persons.

Article 73

The freedom of artistic creation and scientific research as well as dissemination of the fruits thereof, the freedom to teach and to enjoy the products of culture, shall be ensured to everyone.

Article 74

● Public authorities shall pursue policies ensuring the ecological security of current and future generations.

● Protection of the environment shall be the duty of public authorities.

● Everyone shall have the right to be informed of the quality of the environment and its protection.

● Public authorities shall support the activities of citizens to protect and improve the quality of the environment.

Article 76

Public authorities shall protect consumers, customers, hirers or lessees against activities threatening their health, privacy and safety, as well as against dishonest market practices. The scope of such protection shall be specified by statute.

Article 77

● Everyone shall have the right to compensation for any harm done to him by any action of an organ of public authority contrary to law.

● Statutes shall not bar the recourse by any person to the courts in pursuit of claims alleging infringement of freedoms or rights.

Article 127 (Part of it)

● The President of the Republic shall be elected by the Nation, in universal, equal and direct elections, conducted by secret ballot.

● Only a Polish citizen who, no later than the day of the elections, has attained 35 years of age and has a full electoral franchise in elections to the Sejm, may be elected President of the Republic. Any such candidature shall be supported by the signatures of at least 100,000 citizens having the right to vote in elections to the Sejm.

● A candidate who has received more than half of the valid votes shall be considered elected President of the Republic. If none of the candidates has received the required majority of votes, then a repeat ballot shall be held on the 14th day after the first vote.

● The two candidates who have received the largest number of votes in the first ballot shall participate in a repeat ballot. If one of the two such candidates withdraws his consent to candidacy, forfeits his electoral rights or dies, he shall be replaced in the repeat ballot by the candidate who received the next highest consecutive number of votes in the first ballot. In such case, the date of the repeat ballot shall be extended by a further 14 days.

● The candidate who receives the higher number of votes in the repeat ballot shall be elected President of the Republic.

Article 178 (Part of it)

● A judge shall not belong to a political party, a trade union or perform public activities incompatible with the principles of independence of the courts and judges.

by Dunilefra, working for Political Reform

[dunilefra]

Admirable Articles of Philippines's Constitution

ARTICLE II. DECLARATION OF PRINCIPLES AND STATE POLICIES PRINCIPLES (Part of it)

Sec 4

The prime duty of the Government is to serve and protect the people. The Government may call upon the people to defend the State and, in the fulfillment thereof, all citizens may be required, under conditions provided by law, to render personal military or civil service.

Sec 6

The separation of Church and State shall be inviolable.

Sec 9

The State shall promote a just and dynamic social order that will ensure the prosperity and independence of the nation and free the people from poverty through policies that provide adequate social services, promote full employment, a rising standard of living, and an improved quality of life for all.

Sec 15

The State shall protect and promote the right to health of the people and instill health consciousness among them.

Sec 26

The State shall guarantee equal access to opportunities for public service, and prohibit political dynasties as may be defined by law.

ARTICLE III. BILL OF RIGHTS (Part of it)

Sec 3

The privacy of communication and correspondence shall be inviolable except upon lawful order of the court, or when public safety or order requires otherwise as prescribed by law.

Any evidence obtained in violation of this or the preceding section shall be inadmissible for any purpose in any proceeding.

Sec 5

No law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. The free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed. No religious test shall be required for the exercise of civil or political rights.

Sec 21

No person shall be twice put in jeopardy of punishment for the same offense. If an act is punished by a law and an ordinance, conviction or acquittal under either shall constitute a bar to another prosecution for the same act.

ARTICLE V. SUFFRAGE (Part of it)

Sec 1

Suffrage may be exercised by all citizens of the Philippines not otherwise disqualified by law, who are at least eighteen years of age, and who shall have resided in the Philippines for at least one year and in the place wherein they propose to vote for at least six months immediately preceding the election. No literacy, property, or other substantive requirement shall be imposed on the exercise of suffrage.

ARTICLE VI. LEGISLATIVE DEPARTMENT (Part of it)

Sec 4

The term of office of the Senators shall be six years and shall commence, unless otherwise provided by law, at noon on the thirteenth day of June next following their election.

No Senator shall serve for more than two consecutive terms. Voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of his service for the full term for which he was elected.

Sec 7

The Members of the House of Representatives shall be elected for a term of three years which shall begin, unless otherwise provided by law, at noon on the thirtieth day of June next following their election.

No Member of the House of Representatives shall serve for more than three consecutive terms. Voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of his service for the full term for which he was elected.

Sec 10

The salaries of Senators and Members of the House of Representatives shall be determined by law. No increase in said compensation shall take effect until after the expiration of the full term of all the Members of the Senate and the House of Representatives approving such increase.

Sec 31

No law granting a title of royalty or nobility shall be enacted.

ARTICLE VII. EXECUTIVE DEPARTMENT (Part of it)

Sec 1

The executive power shall be vested in the President of the Philippines.

Sec 4

The President and the Vice-President shall be elected by direct vote of the people for a term of six years which shall begin at noon on the thirtieth day of June next following the day of the election and shall end at noon of the same date six years thereafter. The President shall not be eligible for any reelection. No person who has succeeded as President and has served as such for more than four years shall be qualified for election to the same office at any time.

No Vice-President shall serve for more than two successive terms. Voluntary renunciation of the office for any length of time shall not be considered as an interruption in the continuity of the service for the full term for which he was elected.

Sec 13

The President, Vice-President, the Members of the Cabinet, and their deputies or assistants shall not, unless otherwise provided in this Constitution, hold any other office or employment during their tenure. They shall not, during said tenure, directly or indirectly, practice any other profession, participate in any business, or be financially interested in any contract with, or in any franchise, or special privilege granted by the Government or any subdivision, agency, or instrumentality thereof, including government-owned or controlled corporations or their subsidiaries. They shall strictly avoid conflict of interest in the conduct of their office.

The spouse and relatives by consanguinity or affinity within the fourth civil degree of the President shall not during his tenure be appointed as Members of the Constitutional Commissions, or the Office of the Ombudsman, or as Secretaries, Undersecretaries, chairmen or heads of bureaus or offices, including government-owned or controlled corporations and their subsidiaries.

ARTICLE XII. NATIONAL ECONOMY AND PATRIMONY (Part of it)

Sec 1

The goals of the national economy are a more equitable distribution of opportunities, income, and wealth; a sustained increase in the amount of goods and services produced by the nation for the benefit of the people; and an expanding productivity as the key to raising the quality of life for all, especially the underprivileged.

The State shall promote industrialization and full employment based on sound agricultural development and agrarian reform, through industries that make full and efficient use of human and natural resources, and which are competitive in both domestic and foreign markets. However, the State shall protect Filipino enterprises against unfair foreign competition and trade practices.

In the pursuit of these goals, all sectors of the economy and all regions of the country shall be given optimum opportunity to develop. Private enterprises, including corporations, cooperatives, and similar collective organizations, shall be encouraged to broaden the base of their ownership.

Sec 17

In times of national emergency, when the public interest so requires, the State may, during the emergency and under reasonable terms prescribed by it, temporarily take over or direct the operation of any privately owned public utility or business affected with public interest.

Sec 18

The State may, in the interest of national welfare or defense, establish and operate vital industries and, upon payment of just compensation, transfer to public ownership utilities and other private enterprises to be operated by the Government.

Sec 19

The State shall regulate or prohibit monopolies when the public interest so requires. No combinations in restraint of trade or unfair competition shall be allowed.

ARTICLE XIII. SOCIAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS (Part of it)

Sec 12

The State shall establish and maintain an effective food and drug regulatory system and undertake appropriate health manpower development and research, responsive to the country's health needs and problems.

ARTICLE XVI. GENERAL PROVISIONS (Part of it)

Sec 5

Professionalism in the armed forces and adequate remuneration and benefits of its members shall be a prime concern of the State. The armed forces shall be insulated from partisan politics. No member of the military shall engage directly or indirectly in any partisan political activity, except to vote.

by Dunilefra, working for Fundamental Rights

[dunilefra]

Admirable Articles of Peru's Constitution

Article 2 (Part of it)

Every person has the right:

To life, his identity, his moral, psychical, and physical integrity, and his free development and well-being. The unborn child is a rights-bearing subject in all cases that benefit him.

To equality before the law. No person shall be discriminated against on the basis of origin, race, sex, language, religion, opinion, economic situation, or any other distinguishing feature.

To his honor and reputation, to personal and family privacy, as well as to his own voice and image. Every person affected by inaccurate statements or injured in any social medium has the right to demand free, immediate, and proportionate rectification, other legal liabilities notwithstanding.

To the inviolability of his home. No one may enter a dwelling or conduct any investigation or search without authorization from the inhabitant or without a warrant, except in cases of in flagrante delicto or serious threat of the perpetration thereof. Exceptions for reasons of health or serious risk are governed by law.

To the secrecy and inviolability of private communications and documents. Communications, telecommunications, or any private correspondence may only be opened, seized, intercepted, or tapped by the authority of a warrant issued by a judge and with all the guarantees provided in the law. Any matter unrelated to the circumstances under examination shall be kept secret. Private documents obtained in violation of this provision have no legal effect. Books, receipts, and accounting and administrative documents are subject to inspection or audit by relevant authority in accordance with the law. Any action thus taken may not include removal or seizure, except by a court order.

To peaceful assembly without arms. Meetings on any premises, whether private or open to the public, do not require prior notification. Meetings held in squares and public thoroughfares require advance notification by the relevant authority, which may prohibit such meetings solely for proved reasons of safety or public health.

To associate and establish foundations and other forms of not-for-profit legal organizations without prior authorization, and in accordance with the law. These organizations may not be dissolved by administrative resolution.

To make contracts for lawful purposes, whenever they do not contravene laws of public order.

To work freely, in accordance with the law.

To keep his political, philosophical, religious, or any other type of conviction private, as well as to keep professional secrets.

Article 4

The community and the State extend special protection to children, adolescents, mothers, and the elderly in situation of abandonment. They also protect the family and promote marriage, which are recognized as natural and fundamental institutions of society.

The form of marriage and the grounds for separation and dissolution are governed by law.

Article 5

The stable union between a man and a woman, free of any impediment to matrimony, who establishes a common-law marriage, creates community property subject to a marital assets regime, where applicable.

Article 7

Everyone has the right to protection of his health, his family environment, and his community, just as it is his duty to contribute to their development and defense. Any individual unable to care for himself due to physical or mental disability has the right to respect for his dignity and to a regime of protection, care, rehabilitation, and security.

Article 7-A

The State recognizes the right of everyone to have progressive and universal access to drinking water. The State guarantees this right by prioritizing human consumption over other uses.

The State promotes the sustainable management of water, which is recognized as an essential natural resource and as such, constitutes a public good and a patrimony of the Nation. Its domain is inalienable and imprescriptible.

Article 17

Early childhood, primary, and secondary education are compulsory. In public schools, education is free. In public universities, the State guarantees the right to a free education to those students who maintain a satisfactory performance, and lack the economic resources needed to cover the cost of education.

In order to ensure the greatest number of educational offerings and to help those who cannot afford their own education, the law sets forth the method of subsidizing private education in any of its forms, including communal and cooperative education.

The State promotes the establishment of schools, wherever people may require them.

The State guarantees the eradication of illiteracy. It also encourages bilingual and intercultural education, in accordance with the particular characteristics of each area. It preserves the diverse cultural and linguistic manifestations throughout the country. It promotes national integration.

Article 22

Work is a right and a duty. It is the foundation for social welfare and a means of self-realization.

Article 23 (Part of it)

No one is obliged to work without pay or without his free consent.

Article 25

The normal workday is eight hours, or the normal workweek is forty-eight hours, at the longest. In the case of cumulative or atypical workdays, the average number of work hours during an equivalent period may not exceed that maximum.

Workers have the right to weekly and annual paid vacations. This benefit and compensation are regulated by law or agreement.

Article 28

The State recognizes the right of workers to join trade unions, to engage in collective bargaining, and to strike. It ensures their democratic exercise by:

Guaranteeing freedom to form trade unions.

Encouraging collective bargaining and promoting peaceful settlement to labor disputes. Collective agreements are binding in the matters concerning their terms.

Regulating the right to strike so that it is exercised in harmony with the social interest. It defines exceptions and limitations.

Article 29

The State recognizes the right of workers to share in enterprise profits and promotes other forms of participation.

Article 46

No one owes obedience to a usurper government or to anyone who assumes public office in violation of the Constitution and the law.

The civil population has the right to insurrection in defense of the constitutional order.

Acts of those who usurp public office are null and void.

Article 61

The State facilitates and oversees free competition. It fights any practice that would limit it and the abuse of dominant or monopolistic positions. No law or arrangement may authorize or establish monopolies.

The press, radio, television, and other means of expression and social communication and, in general, enterprises, goods and services related to freedom of speech and communication, cannot be objects of exclusivity, monopoly, or hoarding, directly or indirectly, by the State or private parties.

Article 83

The law determines the monetary system of the Republic. Issuance of bills and coins is under the exclusive power of the State. Such power is exercised through the Central Reserve Bank of Peru.

Article 91

The following persons may not be elected members of the national parliament if they have not resigned their offices six (6) months before the election:

Ministers and Deputy Ministers, and the Comptroller General.

Members of the Constitutional Court, the National Board of Justice, the Judicial Branch, the Office of the Prosecutor General, the National Election Board, and the Ombudsman.

The President of the Central Reserve Bank, the Superintendent of Banking, Insurance, and Private Pension Fund Management Firms, and the National Superintendent of Tax Administration.

Members of the Armed Forces and the National Police on active duty.

Other individuals as provided in the Constitution.

Article 92 (Part of it)

The office of congressman is a full-time job. Therefore, members are prohibited from holding any other office, profession, or occupation during the time in which Congress operates.

Article 153

Judges and prosecutors are prohibited to participate in politics, unionize, or declare themselves on strike.

by Dunilefra, working for Fundamental Rights

[dunilefra]

Admirable Articles of Paraguay's Constitution

Article 1. Of the Form of the State and of the Government

The Republic of Paraguay is forever free and independent. It constitutes itself as a social State of law, unitary, indivisible, and decentralized in the form established by this Constitution and the laws.

The Republic of Paraguay adopts for its government the representative, participative and pluralistic democracy, founded on the recognition of human dignity.

Article 8. Of Environmental Protection

The law will regulate the activities susceptible of producing environmental alteration. In the same way [asimismo], it may restrict or prohibit those that it qualifies as dangerous.

The manufacture, the assembly, the importation, the commercialization, the possession or the use of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, as well as the introduction of toxic waste into the country is prohibited. The law may extend this prohibition to other dangerous elements; in the same way, it may regulate the traffic of genetic resources and their technology, precaution in the national interests.

Ecological crime will be defined and sanctioned by the law. Any damage to the environment will result in [importará] the obligation to repair and to indemnify.

Article 9. Of the Freedom and of the Security of the Persons

All persons have the right to be protected in their freedom and in their security.

No one may be obligated to do what the law does not mandate nor be prevented from what it does not prohibit.

Article 14. Of the Non-retroactivity of the Law

No law may have a retroactive effect, unless it is more favorable to the accused or the convicted.

Article 15. Of the Prohibition of Making Justice by Oneself

No one may take the law into their own hands or claim their rights with violence. However, the right to legitimate defense is guaranteed.

Article 21. Of the Imprisonment of Persons

Persons deprived of their liberty will be imprisoned in adequate establishments, avoiding the mixture of sexes. Minors will not be imprisoned with older persons.

The imprisonment of the persons detained will take place in places different from those designated for those serving a sentence.

Article 29. Of the Freedom to Practice Journalism

The practice of journalism, in all its forms, is free and is not subject to prior authorization. The journalists of the mass media of social communication, fulfilling their functions, will not be obligated to act against the dictates of their conscience or to reveal their sources of information.

The columnists have the right to publish their signed opinions, uncensored, in the media for which they work. The head [dirección] [of the media] may exempt itself from any responsibility by stating its disagreement.

The right of the journalists to be the authors of the intellectual, artistic, or photographic product of their work is recognized, irrespective of their techniques, in accordance with the law.

Article 32. Of the Freedom of Assembly and of Manifestation

Persons have the right to meet and to manifest peacefully, without weapons and with licit ends, without the need of a permit, as well as the right not to be obligated to participate in such acts. The law may only regulate its exercise in places of public traffic, [and] at certain hours, preserving the rights of third parties and the public order established by the law.

Article 42. Of the Freedom of Association

All persons are free to associate or unionize themselves with licit ends[;] also no one is obligated to belong to a specific [determinado] association. The law will regulate the form of the colleges of professionals [colegiación profesional].

Secret associations and those of a paramilitary character are prohibited.

Article 52. Of the Union in Matrimony

The union in matrimony of a man and a woman is one of the fundamental components in the formation of a family.

Article 53. Of Children

The parents have the right and the obligation to assist, to feed, to educate, and to shelter their minor children.

The law will punish them in the case of non-fulfillment of their duties of providing food.

Adult children are obligated to give assistance to their parents in the case of necessity.

The laws will regulate the assistance that should be given to the large family and to women who head families.

All children are equal before the law. It will make possible the investigation of paternity. Any qualification concerning the filial relationship in the personal documents is prohibited.

Article 55. Of Maternity and Paternity

Responsible maternity and paternity will be protected by the State, which will promote the creation of necessary institutions to these ends.

Article 56. Of Youth

The conditions for an active participation of youth in the political, social, economic, and cultural development of the country shall be promoted.

Article 72. Of the Control of Quality

The State will see to the control of the quality of the food, chemical, pharmaceutical, and biological products, throughout the stages of production, import, and commercialization.

Likewise it will facilitate the access of sectors with scarce resources to the medicines considered essential.

Article 98. Of the Right to Strike and to Lock-out

All the workers of the public and private sectors have the right to invoke the strike in the case of conflict of interests. The employers enjoy the right of lock-out in the same conditions.

The rights to strike and of lock-out do not extend to the members of the Armed Forces of the Nation, nor those of the police.

The law will regulate the exercise of these rights, so that they do not affect public services indispensable to the community.

Article 104. Of the Obligatory Declaration of Assets and Income

The functionaries and the public employees, including those of popular election, those of bi-national, autarchic, decentralized state entities and, in general, those who receive permanent remunerations from the State, will be obligated to provide sworn declaration of assets and income within fifteen days of entering into possession of their office, and in equal time period at the ceasing of the same.

Article 107. Of the Freedom of Competition (Part of it)

All persons have the right to dedicate themselves to the legal economic activity of their preference, within a regime of equal opportunities.

Competition at the market is guaranteed. The creation of monopolies and the artificial increase or decrease of prices that restrict free competition will not be permitted.

Article 169. Of Real Estate Tax

The totality of the tax revenues from real estate property in a direct form will correspond to the municipalities and to the departments. Its collection will be competence of the municipalities. Seventy percent of the collected by each municipality will remain as its property, fifteen percent in that of the respective department and the remaining fifteen percent will be distributed among the municipalities of less resources, in accordance with the law.

Article 256. Of the Form of the Trials

The trials can be oral and public, in the form and in the measure that the law determines.

All judicial sentences must be founded on this Constitution and on the law. Criticism of the decisions is permitted.

The labor process will be oral and will be based on the principles of immediacy, economy, and concentration.

Article 272. Of the Judicial Police

The law may create a judicial police, dependent of the Judicial Power, in order to collaborate directly with the Public Ministry.

Article 285. Of the Nature, of the Duties, and of the Attributions

A Central Bank of the State, with character of technical organ is established. It has the exclusivity of the emission of the currency, and in accordance with the objectives of the economic policy of the National Government, it participates with the other technical organs of the State, in the formulation of the monetary, credit and exchange policies, being responsible for their execution and development, and preserving monetary stability.

by Dunilefra, working for Human Rights

[dunilefra]

Admirable Articles of Papua New Guinea's Constitution

32. RIGHT TO FREEDOM (Part of it)

Every person has the right to freedom based on law, and accordingly has a legal right to do any thing that-

does not injure or interfere with the rights and freedoms of others; and

is not prohibited by law,

 and no person-

is obliged to do anything that is not required by law; and

may be prevented from doing anything that complies with the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b).

42. LIBERTY OF THE PERSON (Part of it)

No person shall be deprived of his personal liberty except-

in consequence of his unfitness to plead to a criminal charge; or

in the execution of the sentence or order of a court in respect of an offence of which he has been found guilty, or in the execution of the order of a court of record punishing him for contempt of itself or another court or tribunal; or

by reason of his failure to comply with the order of a court made to secure the fulfilment of an obligation (other than a contractual obligation) imposed upon him by law; or

upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed, or being about to commit, an offence; or

for the purpose of bringing him before a court in execution of the order of a court; or

for the purpose of preventing the introduction or spread of a disease or suspected disease, whether of humans, animals or plants, or for normal purposes of quarantine; or

in the case of a person who has not attained the age of 18 years, for the purpose of his education or welfare under the order of a court or with the consent of his guardian.

A person who is arrested or detained-

shall be informed promptly, in a language that he understands, of the reasons for his arrest or detention and of any charge against him; and

shall be permitted whenever practicable to communicate without delay and in private with a member of his family or a personal friend, and with a lawyer of his choice (including the Public Solicitor if he is entitled to legal aid); or

shall be given adequate opportunity to give instructions to a lawyer of his choice in the place in which he is detained,

and shall be informed immediately on his arrest or detention of his rights under this subsection.

A person who is arrested or detained-

for the purpose of being brought before a court in the execution of an order of a court; or

upon reasonable suspicion of his having committed, or being about to commit, an offence,

shall, unless he is released, be brought without delay before a court or a judicial officer and, in a case referred to in paragraph (b), shall not be further held in custody in connection with the offence except by order of a court or judicial officer.

Where complaint is made to the National Court or a Judge that a person is unlawfully or unreasonably detained-

the National Court or a Judge shall inquire into the complaint and order the person concerned to be brought before it or him; and

unless the Court or Judge is satisfied that the detention is lawful, and in the case of a person being detained on remand pending his trial does not constitute an unreasonable detention having regard, in particular, to its length, the Court or a Judge shall order his release either unconditionally or subject to such conditions as the Court or Judge thinks fit.

A person arrested or detained for an offence (other than treason or wilful murder as defined by an Act of the Parliament) is entitled to bail at all times from arrest or detention to acquittal or conviction unless the interests of justice otherwise require.

Where a person to whom Subsection (6) applies is refused bail-

the court or person refusing bail shall, on request by the person concerned or his representative, state in writing the reason for the refusal; and

the person or his representative may apply to the Supreme Court or the National Court in a summary manner for his release.

Subject to any other law, nothing in this section applies in respect of any reasonable act of the parent or guardian of a child, or a person into whose care a child has been committed, in the course of the education, discipline or upbringing of the child.

Subject to any Constitutional Law or Act of the Parliament, nothing in this section applies in respect of a person who is in custody under the law of another country-

while in transit through the country; or

as permitted by or under an Act of the Parliament made for the purposes of Section 206 (visiting forces)

43. FREEDOM FROM FORCED LABOUR

No person shall be required to perform forced labour.

In Subsection (1), "forced labour" does not include-

labour required by the sentence or order of a court; or

labour required of a person while in lawful custody, being labour that, although not required by the sentence or order of a court, is necessary for the hygiene of, or for the maintenance of, the place in which he is in custody; or

in the case of a person in custody for the purpose of his care, treatment, rehabilitation or welfare, labour reasonably required for that purpose; or

labour required of a member of a disciplined force in pursuance of his duties as such a member; or

subject to the approval of any local government body for the area in which he is required to work, labour reasonably required as part of reasonable and normal communal or other civic duties; or

labour of a reasonable amount and kind (including in the case of compulsory military service, labour required as an alternative to such service in the case of a person who has conscientious objections to military service) that is required in the national interest by an Organic Law that complies with Section 38 (general qualifications on qualified rights).

44. FREEDOM FROM ARBITRARY SEARCH AND ENTRY (Part of it)

No person shall be subjected to the search of his person or property or to entry of his premises, except to the extent that the exercise of that right is regulated or restricted by a law-

that makes reasonable provision for a search or entry-

under an order made by a court; or

under a warrant for a search issued by a court or judicial officer on reasonable grounds, supported by oath or affirmation, particularly describing the purpose of the search; or

that authorizes a public officer or government agent of Papua New Guinea or an officer of a body corporate established by law for a public purpose to enter, where necessary, on the premises of a person in order to inspect those premises or anything in or on them in relation to any rate or tax or in order to carry out work connected with any property that is lawfully in or on those premises and belongs to the Government or any such body corporate; or

that authorizes the inspection of goods, premises, vehicles, ships or aircraft to ensure compliance with lawful requirements as to the entry of persons or importation of goods into Papua New Guinea or departure of persons or exportation of goods from Papua New Guinea or as to standards of safe construction, public safety, public health, permitted use or similar matters, or to secure compliance with the terms of a licence to engage in manufacture or trade;

49. RIGHT TO PRIVACY

Every person has a right to reasonable privacy in respect of his private and family life, his communications with other persons and his personal papers and effects, except to the extent that the exercise of that right is regulated or restricted by law that complies with Section 38 (general qualifications on qualified rights).

Subsection (1) does not prevent any law from authorising the capture, storage and use of personal information including finger or palm print and iris image to identify a person in order for the person to obtain a passport, visa or to exercise their right to vote at elections.

51. RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF INFORMATION

Every citizen other than a citizen who has dual citizenship has the right of reasonable access to official documents, subject only to the need for such secrecy as is reasonably justifiable in a democratic society in respect of-

matters relating to national security, defence or international relations of Papua New Guinea (including Papua New Guinea's relations with the Government of any other country or with any international organization); or

records of meetings and decisions of the National Executive Council and of such executive bodies and elected governmental authorities as are prescribed by Organic Law or Act of the Parliament; or

trade secrets, and privileged or confidential commercial or financial information obtained from a person or body; or

parliamentary papers the subject of parliamentary privilege; or

reports, official registers and memoranda prepared by governmental authorities or authorities established by government, prior to completion; or

papers relating to lawful official activities for investigation and prosecution of crime; or

the prevention, investigation and prosecution of crime; or

the maintenance of personal privacy and security of the person; or

matters contained in or related to reports prepared by, on behalf of or for the use of a governmental authority responsible for the regulation or supervision of financial institutions; or

geological or geographical information and data concerning wells and ore bodies.

A law that complies with Section 38 (general qualifications on qualified rights) may regulate or restrict the right guaranteed by this section.

Provision shall be made by law to establish procedures by which citizens may obtain ready access to official information.

This section does not authorize-

withholding information or limiting the availability of records to the public except in accordance with its provisions; or

withholding information from the Parliament.

103. QUALIFICATIONS FOR AND DISQUALIFICATIONS FROM MEMBERSHIP (Part of it)

A person is not qualified to be, or to remain, a member of the Parliament if-

he is not entitled to vote in elections to the Parliament; or

he is of unsound mind within the meaning of any law relating to the protection of the persons and property of persons of unsound mind; or

subject to Subsections (4) to (7), he is under sentence of death or imprisonment for a period of more than nine months; or

he is adjudged insolvent under any law; or

he has been convicted under any law of an indictable offence committed after the coming into operation of the Constitutional Amendment No. 24 – Electoral Reforms; or

he is otherwise disqualified under the Constitution.

109. GENERAL POWER OF LAW-MAKING (Part of it)

Subject to this Constitution, the Parliament may make laws, having effect within and outside the country, for the peace, order and good government of Papua New Guinea and the welfare of the People.

184. RULES OF COURT (Part of it)

The Judges of the Supreme Court or of the National Court may make rules of court, not inconsistent with a Constitutional Law or an Act of the Parliament, with respect to the practice and procedure in and in relation to the Supreme Court or the National Court, as the case may be.

200. RAISING UNAUTHORIZED FORCES

It is strictly forbidden to establish, equip, train or take part in or associate with a military or para-military force, or to organize or take part in military or para-military training, except such as is provided for by this Constitution, or to plan, prepare for or assist in the raising or training of such a force or in such training.

Subsection (1) does not prevent-

the establishment of a reserve, auxiliary or special force (by whatever name known) as part of the Defence Force; or

the establishment of civilian components of the Defence Force, or the establishment or recognition of non-combatant units or organizations within, attached to or associated with the Defence Force,

in accordance with an Act of the Parliament.

An Act of the Parliament may provide that Subsection (1) does not apply to the armed forces of any other country specified in or under the Act, or to the civilian components of, or to the noncombatant units or organizations whether attached to or associated with such forces.

by Dunilefra, working for World Order

[dunilefra]

Admirable Articles of Panama's Constitution

Article 19

There shall be no public or private privileges, or discrimination, by reason of race, birth, social class, handicap, sex, religion or political ideology.

Article 20

All Panamanians and aliens are equal before the Law, but the Law, for reasons of labor, health, morality, public security and national economy, may subject to special conditions, or may deny the exercise of specific activities to aliens in general. Likewise, the Law or the Authorities may, according to circumstances, take measures that exclusively affect nationals of certain countries, in case of war, or in accordance with what may be established in international treaties.

Article 21

No one may be deprived of his/her liberty except by warrant from a competent authority, issued in accordance with legal formalities, and for reasons previously defined by law. Those executing said order are obliged to give a copy thereof to the person concerned, if he/she requests it.

An offender surprised in the act of committing a crime (flagrante delicto) may be apprehended by any person and must be turned over immediately to the authorities.

No one may be detained for more than twenty-four hours without being brought before a competent authority. Public Officers who violate this precept shall suffer immediate loss of employment and shall be subject to all other penalties established by law, concerning this violation.

There shall not be imprisonment, detention or arrest for debts or strictly civil obligations.

Article 22

All persons placed under arrest must be informed immediately, and in an understandable manner, of the reasons for their arrest, and of their Constitutional and corresponding legal rights.

Persons accused of committing a crime have the right to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, at a public trial, under due process of law. Whoever is arrested shall have the right, from that moment, to legal counsel in all police and judiciary proceedings.

This matter shall be regulated by law.

Article 26

The domicile, or residence, is inviolable. No one may enter therein without the consent of the owner, except by warrant of a competent authority and for a specific purpose, or to assist the victims of a crime or disaster.

Labor, social security and health officials, upon presentation of valid identification, may make domiciliary visits, or inspections of work centers, to check on the fulfillment of social and public health laws.

Article 27

Every person may travel freely throughout the National territory and change domicile, or residence, without restrictions, other than those which the transit, fiscal, health, and immigration laws or regulations may prescribe.

Article 28

The penitentiary system is based on principles of security, rehabilitation and social defense. It is unlawful to apply measures which may damage the physical, mental, or moral integrity of incarcerated individuals.

A program for training prisoners in an occupation shall be established, which should permit them to be usefully reintegrated into society.

Prisoners who are minors shall be governed by a special system of custody, protection and education.

Article 49

The State recognizes and guarantees the right of every person to obtain quality goods and services, truthful, clear and sufficient information about the characteristics and the substance of the goods and services which he/she purchases, as well as the freedom of choice and the right to conditions of fair and equitable treatment.

The law shall establish the mechanisms necessary to guarantee these rights, the education and the means of defense of the consumer and user, the compensation of damages caused and the sanctions applicable to the violation of these rights.

Article 51

In case of war, grave disturbances of public order or urgent social interest requiring prompt action, the Executive Authority may decree the expropriation or seizure of private property.

When return of the seized object is feasible, the seizure will be only for the duration of the circumstances that may cause it.

The State is always responsible for all expropriations that the Executive Authority thus carries out, and for the losses and damage caused by the seizure, and will pay the value thereof as soon as the determining cause for the expropriation or seizure ends.

Article 57

Marriage is the legal basis of the family. It rests on equality of rights of both spouses and may be dissolved in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Article 60

Parents have, with respect to their children born out of wedlock, the same duties as towards their children born in wedlock. All children are equal according to law, and have the same rights of inheritance in intestate successions. The rights of minors or incapacitated children and of destitute parents in testate successions, shall be recognized by law.

Article 66

Rules of periodic adjustment of the minimum salary or wage of the worker shall be set by law, to cover the normal requirements of his/her family, to improve worker's standard of living according to specific conditions of each economic region and activity. The law may also determine the method of fixing minimum salaries or wages for professions or trades.

Whenever job or piece work is performed, it is obligatory that the minimum wage be ensured for each day's work.

The minimum of all wages or salaries is un-attachable, except for support obligations as established by law. Working tools of the workmen are also un-attachable.

Article 67

A like wage or salary shall always be paid for like work under identical conditions, irrespective of the person who performs it, without taking into account sex, nationality, age, race, social standing, political or religious ideologies.

Article 93

It is recognized that the purpose of Panamanian education is to encourage in the student the formation of a national conscience based on knowledge of the history and problems of the country.

Article 109

It is an essential function of the State to protect the health of all the people of the Republic. The individual, as part of the national community, is entitled to promotion, protection, conservation, recovery and rehabilitation of his/her health and the obligation to preserve it, health being understood to be complete physical, mental and social wellbeing.

Article 110 (Part of it)

In matters of health, the State is primarily obliged to develop the following activities, integrating the functions of prevention, cure and rehabilitation in the:

● Combating of contagious diseases through environmental health, development of potable water availability, and adopting methods of immunization, prophylaxis, and treatment to be provided collectively and individually to all the population;

Article 119

The State, and all the inhabitants of the national territory, have the obligation of promoting economic and social development that prevents environmental contamination, maintains ecological balance, and avoids the destruction of ecosystems.

Article 126 (Part of it)

To fulfill the objectives of the Agrarian Policy, the State shall carry out the following activities:

● Grant necessary farm lands to rural dwellers and regulate the use of the water. A special system of collective ownership for rural communities which so request may be established by law;

● Organize credit assistance to meet the financial needs of agricultural and cattle operations, and particularly those of low income persons and groups, and give special attention to small and medium producers;

● Take measures to ensure stable markets and fair prices for products and to foster the establishment of Agencies, Corporations, and Cooperatives for production, processing, distribution and consumption;

● Settle new lands and regulate the tenure and use of such lands and of those incorporated into the economy as a result of the construction of new highways;

● Foster the development of the Agrarian Sector by means of technical assistance and promotion of organization, training, protection, mechanization and other activities determined by law;

Article 135

Voting is a right and a duty of all citizens. The vote is free, equal, universal, secret and direct.

Article 139

It is unlawful to form political parties based on sex, race, or religion, or that have as their purpose the destruction of the democratic form of government.

Article 141

The State may supervise and contribute to the payment of expenses incurred by natural persons and political parties in the electoral process. Such supervision and payment shall be determined and regulated by law, ensuring equality of expenditures to all parties and candidates.

Article 150

Members shall act in the interest of the nation and shall represent in the National Assembly their respective political parties and their constituency voters.

Article 158

Assembly members may not themselves, or through other parties, make any contracts with State entities, or with institutions or businesses related to the latter, nor accept from anyone authority to conduct negotiations with these entities, institutions or businesses.

The following cases are excluded:

1. When a member makes personal or professional use of public services or performs current operations of the same nature with institutions or entities affiliated with the State;

2. When contracts awarded through public bidding exist between institutions or entities mentioned in this Article and non-shareholder companies in which a member is a partner, provided that he/she has become a partner prior to his/her election;

3. When contracts, awarded with or without public bidding, are concluded with such institutions or entities by shareholder companies in which one or more members do not hold more than twenty percent (20%) of the total shares;

4. When a member acts in his/her capacity as a lawyer before a judicial body outside the session period or with authorization granted by the plenary of the National Assembly during the session period.

Article 192

There may not be elected President of the Republic:

● A citizen who, called to exercise the Presidency because of permanent absence of the President, has held the position at any time during the three years immediately preceding the term for which the election is held;

● Relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity or second degree of marital relations of a President of the Republic who has held office in the term immediately preceding, or such relatives of the citizen referred to in numeral 1 of this Article.

Article 193

The following persons may not be elected Vice-Presidents of the Republic:

● The President of the Republic currently serving his/her term of office when the election for Vice-President of the Republic is for the term immediately following said term;

● Relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity or the second degree of marital relations of the President of the Republic, for the term following that in which said President has held office;

● A citizen who, as Vice-President of the Republic, has held the Presidency in a permanent manner at any time during the three years preceding the term for which the election is being held;

● Relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity or second degree of marital relations of the citizen mentioned in the preceding section, for the term immediately following that in which that citizen has held the Presidency of the Republic;

● Relatives within the fourth degree of consanguinity or the second degree of marital relations of the President of the Republic.

Article 201

The Administration of Justice is free, expeditious, and uninterrupted. The pleadings and action of all Court proceedings shall be recorded on simple paper, and shall not be subject to any tax.

Vacations of the Justices, Judges or Judicial Branch employees shall not interrupt the continuous functioning of the respective Tribunals.

Article 284

The State will intervene in any kind of private enterprise, in accordance with the regulations established by law, to ensure social justice to which the present Constitution refers and especially for the following purposes:

● To regulate, through special institutions, service rates and prices of items of any nature and specially those of basic necessity;

● To demand proper efficiency in services and adequate quality in articles mentioned in the preceding section;

● To coordinate services and the production of goods. Articles of basic necessities shall be defined by law.

Article 298

The State shall ensure the freedom of economic activity and free competition in the markets.

The laws shall establish the modalities and conditions which guarantee these principles.

by Dunilefra, working for World Order

[dunilefra]

Admirable Articles of Palau's Constitution

ARTICLE IV. FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS

Section 5

Every person shall be equal under the law and shall be entitled to equal protection. The government shall take no action to discriminate against any person on the basis of sex, race, place of origin, language, religion or belief, social status or clan affiliation except for the preferential treatment of citizens, for the protection of minors, elderly, indigent, physically or mentally handicapped, and other similar groups, and in matters concerning intestate succession and domestic relations. No person shall be treated unfairly in legislative or executive investigation.

Section 7

A person accused of a criminal offense shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and shall enjoy the right to be informed of the nature of the accusation and to a speedy, public and impartial trial. He shall be permitted full opportunity to examine all witnesses and shall have the right of compulsory process for obtaining witnesses and evidence on his behalf at public expense. He shall not be compelled to testify against himself. At all times the accused shall have the right to counsel. If the accused is unable to afford counsel, he shall be assigned counsel by the government. Accused persons lawfully detained shall be separated from convicted criminals and on the basis of sex and age. Bail may not be unreasonably excessive nor denied those accused and detained before trial. The writ of habeas corpus is hereby recognized and may not be suspended. The national government may be held liable in a civil action for unlawful arrest or damage to private property as prescribed by law. Coerced or forced confessions shall not be admitted into evidence nor may a person be convicted or punished solely on the basis of a confession without corroborating evidence.

Section 8

A victim of a criminal offense may be compensated by the government as prescribed by law or at the discretion of the court.

Section 10

Torture, cruel, inhumane or degrading treatment or punishment, and excessive fines are prohibited.

Section 11

Slavery or involuntary servitude is prohibited except to punish crime. The government shall protect children from exploitation.

Section 12

A citizen has the right to examine any government document and to observe the official deliberations of any agency of government.

ARTICLE VI. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NATIONAL GOVERNMENT

The national government shall take positive action to attain these national objectives and implement these national policies: conservation of a beautiful, healthful and resourceful natural environment; promotion of the national economy; protection of the safety and security of persons and property; promotion of the health and social welfare of the citizens through the provision of free or subsidized health care; and provision of public education for citizens which shall be free and compulsory as prescribed by law.

ARTICLE VIII. EXECUTIVE

Section 5

The cabinet shall consist of the heads of the major executive departments created by law. The cabinet members shall be appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate and shall serve at the will of the President. No person may serve in a legislature and the cabinet at the same time.

ARTICLE IX. OLBIIL ERA KELULAU (Parliament)

Section 8

The compensation of the members of the Olbiil Era Kelulau shall be determined by law. No increase in compensation shall apply to the members of the Olbiil Era Kelulau during the term of enactment, nor may an increase in compensation be enacted in the period between the date of a regular general election and the date a new Olbiil Era Kelulau takes office.

by Dunilefra, working for World Politics