Constitutions of the countries of the world

[Proterra]

Poland



Having regard for the existence and future of our Homeland,
Which recovered, in 1989, the possibility of a sovereign and democratic determination of its fate,
We, the Polish Nation - all citizens of the Republic,
Both those who believe in God as the source of truth, justice, good and beauty,
As well as those not sharing such faith but respecting those universal values as arising from other sources,
Equal in rights and obligations towards the common good - Poland,
Beholden to our ancestors for their labours, their struggle for independence achieved at great sacrifice, for our culture rooted in the Christian heritage of the Nation and in universal human values,
Recalling the best traditions of the First and the Second Republic,
Obliged to bequeath to future generations all that is valuable from our over one thousand years' heritage,
Bound in community with our compatriots dispersed throughout the world,
Aware of the need for cooperation with all countries for the good of the Human Family,
Mindful of the bitter experiences of the times when fundamental freedoms and human rights were violated in our Homeland,
Desiring to guarantee the rights of the citizens for all time, and to ensure diligence and efficiency in the work of public bodies,
Recognizing our responsibility before God or our own consciences,
Hereby establish this Constitution of the Republic of Poland as the basic law for the State, based on respect for freedom and justice, cooperation between the public powers, social dialogue as well as on the principle of subsidiarity in the strengthening the powers of citizens and their communities.
We call upon all those who will apply this Constitution for the good of the Third Republic to do so paying respect to the inherent dignity of the person, his or her right to freedom, the obligation of solidarity with others, and respect for these principles as the unshakeable foundation of the Republic of Poland.


Following articles are very good in my opinion,



Article 2

The Republic of Poland shall be a democratic state ruled by law and implementing the principles of social justice.


Article 5

The Republic of Poland shall safeguard the independence and integrity of its territory and ensure the freedoms and rights of persons and citizens, the security of the citizens, safeguard the national heritage and shall ensure the protection of the natural environment pursuant to the principles of sustainable development.


Article 13

Political parties and other organizations whose programmes are based upon totalitarian methods and the modes of activity of nazism, fascism and communism, as well as those whose programmes or activities sanction racial or national hatred, the application of violence for the purpose of obtaining power or to influence the State policy, or provide for the secrecy of their own structure or membership, shall be prohibited.


Article 74

1. Public authorities shall pursue policies ensuring the ecological security of current and future generations.
2. Protection of the environment shall be the duty of public authorities.
3. Everyone shall have the right to be informed of the quality of the environment and its protection.
4. Public authorities shall support the activities of citizens to protect and improve the quality of the environment.

And these ones I don't like so much...


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 29

Warsaw shall be the capital of the Republic of Poland.






Link to full text:
The Constitution of the Republic of Poland

[Dane_in_LA]

Here's an example of a cnstitutional monarchy - in this case, Denmark.

I'll start with a bit of the Royal stuff - remember that in practice one should read "sitting Government" where it says "the King", the polite illusion being that the Government is governing only by the King's authority, where in reality, the monarch is just a figurehead. (It's complicated, OK?)

Anyway, here goes:

§ 1
This Constitutional Act shall apply to all parts of
the Kingdom of Denmark.

All sorts of complications with Greenland and the Faeroe Islands, but let's not get into that.

§ 2
The form of government shall be that of a constitutional
monarchy. Royal authority shall be inherited
by men and women in accordance with
the provisions of the Act of Succession to the
Throne of March 27, 1953.

In 1953, King Frederik IX had no sons, and the next male in line for the throne was a bit - unsuitable. (Glug, glug, glug. Say no more.) So the Constitution was changed, by referendum, to allow for females to become monarch. Hence, in 1972, the current Queen - Margrethe II - ascended to the throne. She's doing a damn fine job, incidentally.

§ 3
Legislative authority shall be vested in the King
and the Folketing conjointly. Executive authority
shall be vested in the King. Judicial authority
shall be vested in the courts of justice.

The authority is "vested" in the King, but in practice, it's the PM and his/her government calling the shots, of course. "Folketing" means "Parliament".

§ 4
The Evangelical Lutheran Church shall be the Established
Church of Denmark, and as such shall
be supported by the State.

Yup, leftie Denmark has a State Church. Making it the most toothless religious body anywhere, ever. When your clergy are civil servants, they try their best not to offend any part of the electorate.

PART II

§ 5
The King shall not reign in other countries except
with the consent of the Folketing.

§ 6
The King shall be a member of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church.

Ironically, only one Dane is forced to be a member of the State Church: The King.

§ 7
The King shall be of age when he has completed
his eighteenth year. The same provision shall
apply to the Heir to the Throne.

§ 8
The King shall, prior to his accession to the
throne, make a solemn declaration in writing
before the Council of State that he will faithfully
adhere to the Constitutional Act. Two identical
originals of the declaration shall be executed, one
of which shall be delivered to the Folketing for
preserving in its archives, while the other shall be
filed in the Public Record Office. When, because
of absence or for other reasons, the King is unable
to sign the aforesaid declaration immediately on
his accession to the throne, government shall, unless
otherwise provided by statute, be conducted
by the Council of State until such declaration has
been signed. When the King has already, as Heir
to the Throne, signed the aforesaid declaration,
he shall accede to the throne immediately it becomes
vacant.

There is no longer any formal crowning ceremony. The Prime Minister announces three times: "King <name> is dead. Long live King <name of new king>!" from the balcony of Parliament, and that's it.

§ 9
Provisions relating to the exercising of sovereign
power in the event of the minority, illness, or absence
of the King shall be laid down by statute.
Should the throne become vacant and there be
no Heir to the Throne, the Folketing shall elect a
King and establish the future order of succession
to the throne.

Yup, there's a provision for Parliament to elect a new king.

Here's an interesting tidbit - referendums:

§ 41
(1) Any member of the Folketing shall be entitled
to introduce Bills and other measures.
(2) No Bill shall be finally passed until it has been
read three times in the Folketing.

...

§ 42
(1) Where a Bill has been passed by the Folketing,
one-third of the members of the Folketing may,
within three weekdays from the final passing of
the Bill, request of the President that the Bill be
submitted to a referendum. Such request shall be
made in writing and signed by the members
making the request.

...

(3) Where a referendum on a Bill has been requested
the Folketing may, within a period of five
weekdays from the final passing of the Bill, resolve
that the Bill shall be withdrawn.
(4) Where the Folketing has made no resolution
in accordance with sub-section (3), notice that the
Bill is to be submitted to a referendum shall be
given without delay to the Prime Minister, who
shall then cause the Bill to be published together
with a statement that a referendum is to be held.
The referendum shall be held, in accordance with
the decision of the Prime Minister, not less than
twelve and not more than eighteen weekdays
after the publication of the Bill.
(5) At the referendum votes shall be cast for or
against the Bill. For the Bill to be rejected, a majority
of the electors who vote and not less than
thirty per cent of all persons who are entitled to
vote, shall have voted against the Bill.

In plain English: A minority in Parliament can force a bill to be voted upon by the entire electorate. This is fairly rare, though.

A bit on the administration of justice:

§ 65
(1) In the administration of justice all proceedings
shall to the widest possible extent be public and
oral.

Openness is the norm.

(2) Laymen shall participate in criminal proceedings.
The cases and the form in which such participation
shall take place, including which cases
shall be tried by jury, shall be provided for by
statute.

The 12-man jury is not used in Denmark - some cases have a six-man jury, some cases are decided by a regular judge and two "lay judges". Besides, the judge takes an active part in finding the facts of the case.

PART VII
§ 66
The constitution of the Established Church shall
be laid down by statute.

State Church again, but:

§ 67
Citizens shall be at liberty to form congregations
for the worship of God in a manner according
with their convictions, provided that nothing
contrary to good morals or public order shall be
taught or done.

And there are wide borders for good morals and public order.

§ 68
No one shall be liable to make personal contributions
to any denomination other than the one to
which he adheres.

In other words, paying taxes to the State Church is optional. (It is.)

§ 69
Rules for religious bodies dissenting from the Established
Church shall be laid down by statute.

Sounds ominous, but in effect, nothing to it. Everybody's free to worship as they see fit, but "free practice of religion" is not a get-out-of-crime card.

§ 70
No person shall by reason of his creed or descent
be deprived of access to the full enjoyment of civic
and political rights, nor shall he escape compliance
with any common civic duty for such reasons.

That's fairly OK.

§ 71
(1) Personal liberty shall be inviolable. No Danish
subject shall, in any manner whatsoever, be deprived
of his liberty because of his political or religious
convictions or because of his descent.

I like.


(2) A person shall be deprived of his liberty only
where this is warranted by law.

I like this one, too.

(3) Any person who is taken into custody shall be
brought before a judge within twenty-four hours.
Where the person taken into custody cannot be
immediately released, the judge shall decide, in
an order to be given as soon as possible and at
the latest within three days, stating the grounds,
whether the person taken into custody shall be
committed to prison; and in cases where he can
be released on bail, shall also determine the nature
and amount of such bail. This provision may
be departed from by statute as far as Greenland
is concerned, if for local considerations such departure
may be deemed necessary.

The Greenland exemption was for practical reasons - back in the 19th century, transporting a defendant by ship and dog-sleigh was likely to take way more than 24 hours.

(4) The pronouncement of the judge may be separately
appealed against at once to a higher court
of justice by the person concerned.

(5) No person shall be remanded in custody for
an offence which can involve only punishment
by fine or mitigated imprisonment (hæfte).

(6) Outside criminal procedure, the legality of
deprivation of liberty not executed by order of a
judicial authority, and not warranted by legislation
relating to aliens, shall at the request of the
person so deprived of his liberty, or the request of
any person acting on his behalf, be brought before
the ordinary courts of justice or other judicial authority
for decision. Rules governing this procedure
shall be provided by statute.

This covers stuff like detaining mental patients.

(7) The persons referred to in sub-section (6) shall
be under supervision by a board set up by the
Folketing, to which board the persons concerned
shall be permitted to apply.

§ 72
The dwelling shall be inviolable. House search,
seizure, and examination of letters and other
papers, or any breach of the secrecy that shall be
observed in postal, telegraph, and telephone matters,
shall not take place except under a judicial
order, unless particular exception is warranted
by statute.

Yeah, get a warrant.

§ 73
(1) The right of property shall be inviolable. No
person shall be ordered to surrender his property
except where required in the public interest. It
shall be done only as provided by statute and
against full compensation.

Expropriation is a necessary evil, of course.

(2) Where a Bill has been passed relating to the
expropriation of property, one-third of the mem
bers of the Folketing may, within three
weekdays from the final passing of such Bill,
demand that it shall not be presented for the
Royal Assent until new elections to the Folketing
have been held and the Bill has again been passed
by the Folketing assembling thereafter.

This is the nuclear option, of course. But a minority in Parliament can in fact insist on a new election due to an expropriation act.

(3) Any question of the legality of an act of expropriation,
and the amount of compensation, may
be brought before the courts of justice. The hearing
of issues relating to the amount of the compensation
may by statute by referred to courts of
justice established for such purpose.

§ 74
Any restraint on the free and equal access to
trade, which is not based on the public interest,
shall be abolished by statute.

This was pretty big in the 19th century. People would try to form monopolies, keep competitors out of the marketplace etc.

§ 75
(1) In order to advance the public interest, efforts
shall be made to guarantee work for every ablebodied
citizen on terms that will secure his existence.

Yep, there's a government responsibility to attempt to provide work.

(2) Any person unable to support himself or his
dependants shall, where no other person is responsible
for his or their maintenance, be entitled
to receive public assistance, provided that he shall
comply with the obligations imposed by statute
in such respect.

It's a welfare state, and it's right there in the Constitution. I like it.

§ 76
All children of school age shall be entitled to free
instruction in primary schools. Parents or guardians
making their own arrangements for their
children or wards to receive instruction equivalent
to the general primary school standard shall
not be obliged to have their children or wards
taught in a publicly provided school.

Note the bit about "general primary school standard" - you can homeschool or send the kiddies to private school, but you're legally obligated to ensure they get an education to public school standards.

§ 77
Any person shall be at liberty to publish his ideas
in print, in writing, and in speech, subject to his
being held responsible in a court of law. Censorship
and other preventive measures shall never
again be introduced.

The "court of law" bit is there for libel. But no "preventive measures" can be taken. Regrettably, this has made Denmark a bit of a haven for the printing of Neo-Nazi material. Feh. Sucks to be principled, sometimes.

§ 78
(1) Citizens shall, without previous permission,
be free to form associations for any lawful purpose.
(2) Associations employing violence, or aiming at
the attainment of their object by violence, by instigation
to violence, or by similar punishable influence
on persons holding other views, shall be
dissolved by court judgement.
(3) No association shall be dissolved by any government
measure; but an association may be temporarily
prohibited, provided that immediate
proceedings be taken for its dissolution.

The threshold for subsection (2) is very, very high.

(4) Cases relating to the dissolution of political
associations may, without special permission, be
brought before the Supreme Court of Justice of
the Realm.

- and the Supreme Court is involved immediately.

(5) The legal effects of the dissolution shall be determined
by statute.

§ 79
Citizens shall, without previous permission, be
at liberty to assemble unarmed. The police shall
be entitled to be present at public meetings.
Open-air meetings may be prohibited when it is
feared that they may constitute a danger to the
public peace.

Fairly common sense.

§ 80
In the event of riots the armed forces may not
take action, unless attacked, until after the crowd
has three times been called upon to disperse in the
name of the King and the law and such warning
has gone unheeded.

The armed forces mentioned here is the police. And yes, they do in fact call out three times before they attempt to disperse a riot.

§ 81
Every male person able to bear arms shall be
liable with his person to contribute to the defence
of his country under such rules as are laid down
by statute.

This was considered a major step towards fairness back in 1849. Before that, each city/parish had to line up a specific number of young men for military service each year, and you can bet it wasn't the children of the rich and the noblemen. This paragraph made it everybody's responsibility.

...

§ 83
All legislative privileges attaching to nobility,
title, and rank shall be abolished.

They get to keep their titles, but their privileges are now symbolic.

[majoun]

A constitution that I would definitely not want to live under:

ICL - North Korea Constitution

[majoun]

I presume this would be an example of a Sharia based constitution:

Saudi Arabia - Constitution
{ Adopted on: March 1992 }
{ Adopted by Royal decree of King Fahd }
{ ICL Document Status: Oct 1993 }


Chapter 1 General Principles


Article 1
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is a sovereign Arab Islamic state with Islam as its religion; God's Book and the Sunnah of His Prophet, God's prayers and peace be upon him, are its constitution, Arabic is its language and Riyadh is its capital.

Article 2
The state's public holidays are Id al-Fitr and Id al-Adha. Its calendar is the Hegira calendar.

Article 3
The state's flag shall be as follows:
(a) It shall be green.
(b) Its width shall be equal to two-thirds of it's length.
(c) The words "There is but one God and Mohammed is His Prophet" shall be inscribed in the center with a drawn sword under it. The statute shall define the rules pertaining to it.

Article 4
The state's emblem shall consist of two crossed swords with a palm tree in the upper space between them. The statute shall define the state's anthem and its medals.

Chapter 2 [Monarchy]


Article 5
(a) The system of government in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is that of a monarchy.
(b) Rule passes to the sons of the founding King, Abd al-Aziz Bin Abd al-Rahman al-Faysal Al Sa'ud, and to their children's children. The most upright among them is to receive allegiance in accordance with the principles of the Holy Koran and the Tradition of the Venerable Prophet.
(c) The King chooses the Heir Apparent and relieves him of his duties by Royal order.
(d) The Heir Apparent is to devote his time to his duties as an Heir Apparent and to whatever missions the King entrusts him with.
(e) The Heir Apparent takes over the powers of the King on the latter's death until the act of allegiance has been carried out.

Article 6
Citizens are to pay allegiance to the King in accordance with the holy Koran and the tradition of the Prophet, in submission and obedience, in times of ease and difficulty, fortune and adversity.

Article 7
Government in Saudi Arabia derives power from the Holy Koran and the Prophet's tradition.

Article 8 [Government Principles]
Government in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is based on the premise of justice, consultation, and equality in accordance with the Islamic Shari'ah.

Chapter 3 Features of the Saudi Family


Article 9
The family is the kernel of Saudi society, and its members shall be brought up on the basis of the Islamic faith, and loyalty and obedience to God, His Messenger, and to guardians; respect forand implementation of the law, and love of and pride in the homeland and its glorious history as the Islamic faith stipulates.

Article 10
The state will aspire to strengthen family ties, maintain its Arab and Islamic values and care for all its members, and to provide the right conditions for the growth of their resources and capabilities.

Article 11
Saudi society will be based on the principle of adherence to God's command, on mutual cooperation in good deeds and piety and mutual support and inseparability.

Article 12
The consolidation of national unity is a duty, and the state will prevent anything that may lead to disunity, sedition and separation.

Article 13
education will aim at instilling the Islamic faith in the younger generation, providing its members with knowledge and skills and preparing them to become useful members in the building of their society, members who love their homeland and are proud of its history.

Chapter 4 Economic Principles


Article 14
All God's bestowed wealth, be it under the ground, on the surface or in national territorial waters, in the land or maritime domains under the state's control, are the property of the state as defined by law. The law defines means of exploiting, protecting, and developing such wealth in the interests of the state, its security and economy.

Article 15
No privilege is to be granted and no public resource is to be exploited without a law.

Article 16
Public money is sacrosanct. The state has an obligation to protect it and both citizens and residents are to safeguard it.

Article 17
Property, capital, and labor are essential elements in the Kingdom's economic and social being. They are personal rights which perform a social function in accordance with Islamic Shari'ah.

Article 18
The state protects freedom of private property and its sanctity. No one is to be stripped of his property except when it serves the public interest, in which case fair compensation is due.

Article 19
Public confiscation of money is prohibited and the penalty of private confiscation is to be imposed only by a legal order.

Article 20
Taxes and fees are to be imposed on a basis of justice and only when the need for them arises. Imposition, amendment, revocation and exemption is only permitted by law.

Article 21
Alms tax is to be levied and paid to legitimate recipients.

Article 22
Economic and social development is to be achieved according to a just and scientific plan.

Chapter 5 Rights and Duties


Article 23 [Islam]
The state protects Islam; it implements its Shari'ah; it orders people to do right and shun evil; it fulfills the duty regarding God's call.

Article 24 [Holy Places]
The state works to construct and serve the Holy Places; it provides security and care for those who come to perform the pilgrimage and minor pilgrimage in them through the provision of facilities and peace.

Article 25 [World Peace]
The state strives for the achievement of the hopes of the Arab and Islamic nation for solidarity and unity of word, and to consolidate its relations with friendly states.

Article 26 [Human Rights]
The state protects human rights in accordance with the Islamic Shari'ah.

Article 27 [Welfare Rights]
The state guarantees the rights of the citizen and his family in cases of emergency, illness and disability, and in old age; it supports the system of social security and encourages institutions and individuals to contribute in acts of charity.

Article 28 [Work]
The state provides job opportunities for who-ever is capable of working; it enacts laws that protect the employee and employer.

Article 29 [Science, Culture]
The state safeguards science, literature and culture; it encourages scientific research; it protects the Islamic and Arab heritage and contributes toward the Arab, Islamic and human civilization.

Article 30 [Education]
The state provides public education and pledges to combat illiteracy.

Article 31 [Health Care]
The state takes care of health issues and provides health care for each citizen.

Article 32 [Environment, Nature]
The state works for the preservation, protection, and improvement of the environment, and for the prevention of pollution.

Article 33 [Armed Forces]
The state establishes and equips the Armed Forces for the defence of the Islamic religion, the Two Holy Places, society, and the citizen.

Article 34 [Military Service]
The defence of the Islamic religion, society, and country is a duty for each citizen. The regime establishes the provisions of military service.

Article 35 [Citizenship]
The statutes define the Regulations governing Saudi Arabian nationality.

Article 36 [Arrest]
The state provides security for all its citizens and all residents within its territory and no one shall be arrested, imprisoned, or have their actions restricted except in cases specified by statutes.

Article 37 [Home]
The home is sacrosanct and shall not be entered without the permission of the owner or be searched except in cases specified by statutes.

Article 38 [Punishment, nulla poena]
Penalties shall be personal and there shall be no crime or penalty except in accordance with the Shari'ah or organizational law. There shall be no punishment except for acts committed subsequent to the coming into force of the organizational law.

Article 39 [Expression]
Information, publication, and all other media shall employ courteous language and the state's regulations, and they shall contribute to the education of the nation and the bolstering of its unity. All acts that foster sedition or division or harm the state's security and its public relations or detract from man's dignity and rights shall be prohibited. The statutes shall define all that.

Article 40 [Communication]
Telegraphic, postal, telephone, and other means of communications shall be safeguarded. They cannot be confiscated, delayed, read or listened to except in cases defined by statutes.

Article 41 [Residents' Duties]
Residents of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia shall abide by its laws and shall observe the values of Saudi society and respect its traditions and feelings.

Article 42 [Asylum, Extradition]
The state shall grant the right to political asylum when the public interest demands this. Statutes and international agreements shall define the rules and procedures governing the extradition of common criminals.

Article 43 [Royal Courts]
The King's Court and that of the Crown Prince shall be open to all citizens and to anyone who has a complaint or a plea against an injustice. Every individual shall have a right to address the public authorities in all matters affecting him.

Chapter 6 The Authorities of the State


Article 44
The authorities of the state consist of the following:
the judicial authority;
the executive authority;
the regulatory authority.
These authorities cooperate with each other in the performance of their duties, in accordance with this and other laws. The King shall be the point of reference for all these authorities.

Article 45
The source of the deliverance of fatwa in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are God's Book and the Sunnah of His Messenger. The law will define the composition of the senior ulema body, the administration of scientific research, deliverance of fatwa and it's (the body of senior ulema's) functions.

Article 46
The judiciary is an independent authority. There is no control over judges in the dispensation of their judgements except in the case of the Islamic Shari'ah.

Article 47
The right to litigation is guaranteed to citizens and residents of the Kingdom on an equal basis. The law defines the required procedures for this.

Article 48
The courts will apply the rules of the Islamic Shari'ah in the cases that are brought before them, in accordance with what is indicated in the Book and the Sunnah, and statutes decreed by the Ruler which do not contradict the Book or the Sunnah.

Article 49
Observing what is stated in Article 53, the courts shall arbitrate in all disputes and crimes.

Article 50
The King, or whoever deputizes for him, is responsible for the implementation of judicial rulings.

Article 51
The authorities establish the formation of the Higher Council of Justice and its prerogatives; they also establish the seniority of the courts and their prerogatives.

Article 52
The appointment of judges and the termination of their duties is carried out by Royal decree by a proposal from the Higher Council of Justice in accordance with the provisions of the law.

Article 53
The law establishes the seniority of the tribunal of complaints and its prerogatives.

Article 54
The law establishes the relationship between the investigative body and the Prosecutor-general, and their organization and prerogatives.

Article 55
The King carries out the policy of the nation, a legitimate policy in accordance with the provisions of Islam; the King oversees the implementation of the Islamic Shari'ah, the system of government, the state's general policies; and the protection and defence of the country.

Article 56
The King is the head of the Council of Ministers; he is assisted in carrying out his duties by members of the Council of Ministers, in accordance with the provisions of this and other laws. The Council of Ministers establishes the prerogatives of the Council regarding internal and external affairs, the organization of and co-ordination between government bodies. It also establishes requirements to be fulfilled by ministers, their prerogatives, the manner of their questioning and all issues concerning them. The law on the Council of Ministers and its prerogatives is to be amended in accordance with this law.

Article 57
(a) The King appoints and relieves deputies of the prime minister and ministers and members of the Council of Ministers by Royal decree.
(b) The deputies of the prime minister and ministers of the Council of Ministers are responsible, by expressing solidarity before the King, for implementing the Islamic Shari'ah and the state's general policy.
(c) The King has the right to dissolve and reorganize the Council of Ministers.

Article 58
The King appoints those who enjoy the rank of ministers, deputy ministers and those of higher rank, and relieves them of their posts by Royal decree in accordance with the explanations included in the law. Ministers and heads of independent departments are responsible before the prime minister for the ministries and departments which they supervise.

Article 59
The law defines the rules of the civil service, including salaries, awards, compensations, favors and pensions.

Article 60
The King is the commander-in-chief of all the armed forces. He appoints officers and puts an end to their duties in accordance with the law.

Article 61
The King declares a state of emergency, general mobilization and war, and the law defines the rules for this.

Article 62
If there is a danger threatening the safety of the Kingdom or its territorial integrity, or the security of its people and its interests, or which impedes the functioning of the state institutions, the King may take urgent measures in order to deal with this danger And if the King considers that these measures should continue, he may then implement the necessary regulations to this end.

Article 63
The King receives Kings and Heads of State. He appoints his representatives to states, and he receives the credentials of state representatives accredited to him.

Article 64
The King awards medals, as defined by regulations.

Article 65
The King may delegate prerogatives to the Crown Prince by Royal decree.

Article 66
In the event of his travelling abroad, the King issues a Royal decree delegating to the Crown Prince the management of the affairs of state and looking after the interests of the people, as defined by the Royal decree.

Article 67
The regulatory authority lays down regulations and motions to meet the interests of the state or remove what is bad in its affairs, in accordance with the Islamic Shari'ah. This authority exercises its functions in accordance with this law and the laws pertaining to the Council of Ministers and the Consultative Council.

Article 68 [Consultative Council]
A Consultative Council is to be created. Its statute will specify how it is formed, how it exercises its powers and how its members are selected.

Article 69
The King has the right to convene the Consultative Council and the Council of Ministers for a joint meeting and to invite whoever he wishes to attend that meeting to discuss whatever matters he wishes.

Article 70
International treaties, agreements, regulations and concessions are approved and amended by Royal decree.

Article 71
Statutes are to be published in the Official Gazette and take effect from the date of publication unless another date is specified.

Chapter 7 Financial Affairs


Article 72
(a) The statute explains the provisions concerning the state's revenue and its entry in the state's general budget.
(b) revenue is entered and spent in accordance with the rules specified in the statute.

Article 73
Any undertaking to pay a sum of money from the general budget must be made in accordance with the provisions of the budget. If it is not possible to do so in accordance with the provisions of the budget, then it must be done in accordance with Royal decree.

Article 74
The sale, renting or use of state assets is not permitted except in accordance with the statute.

Article 75
The statutes will define the monetary and banking provisions, the standards, weights and measures.

Article 76
The law will fix the state's financial year and will announce the budget by way of a Royal decree. It will also assess the revenues and expenditure of that year at least one month before the start of the financial year. If, for essential reasons, the budget is not announced and the new financial year starts, the budget of the previous year will remain in force until the new budget is announced.

Article 77
The competent body will prepare the state's final statement of account for the passing year and will submit it to the head of the council of ministers.

Article 78
The same provisions will apply both to the budgets of the corporate bodies and their final statements of account and to the state's budget and its final statement of account.

Chapter 8 Control Bodies


Article 79
All the state's revenues and expenditures will come under subsequent control and all the state's movable and immovable funds will be controlled in order to confirm the good use of these funds and their preservation. An annual report will be submitted on this matter to the head of the Council of Ministers. The law will define the competent control body and its obligations and prerogatives.

Article 80
government bodies will come under control in order to confirm the good performance of the administration and the implementation of the statutes. Financial and administrative offenses will be investigated and an annual report will be submitted on this matter to the head of the Council of Ministers. The law will define the competent body in charge of this and it's obligations and prerogatives.

Chapter 9 General Provisions


Article 81
The implementation of this law will not prejudice the treaties and agreements signed by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia with international bodies and organizations.

Article 82
Without violating the content of Article 7, no provision of this law whatsoever may be suspended unless it is temporarysuch as in a time of war or during the declaration of a state of emergency. This temporary suspension will be in accordance with the terms of the law.

Article 83
This law may only be amended in the same way as it was promulgated.

ICL - Saudi Arabia - Constitution

[Cloud Nine]

France has had like 12 to our 1...

[jtur88]

The Confederate States of America had a section that was word for word identical with the Bill of Rights in the USA Constitution. Except for one thing:

A well regulated Militia being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms shall not be infringed.

They took out that troublesome comma, because they understood that it was the clear intention of the founders, and of the Confederacy, that the Militia MUST be well-regulated, and that wasn't just an afterthought that they wanted to slip in there and hope nobody would notice.