The Liberian Constitutions
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The Liberian Constitutions |
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| In the wake of the April 1980 coup d'etat and the suspension of the Constitution of 1847, the National Constitution Drafting Commission in 1983 submitted a new draft Constitution of the Republic of Liberia (see 1983 Draft Constitution). Before the public's ratification of the draft, a 59-member Constitution Advisory Assembly was empowered by the military council to make any revision or write a new draft if it so deemed. Among the major revisions made by the Assembly were the scrapping of such autonomous commissions as Judicial Service and Ombudsman; increase in the presidential term to two consecutive six-year terms; and the removal of the entrenchment provision as well as the removal of the provision banning military personnel from participating in partisan politics. (Dunn, D. Elwood , Amos J. Beyan, Carl Patrick Burrowes. Historical Dictionary of Liberia: 2nd Edition. Scarecrow Press, 2001. p86-7. Used by permission )
Chapter I - Structure Of The State Chapter II - General Principles Of National Policy Chapter III - Fundamental Rights Chapter IV - Citizenship Chapter V - The Legislature Chapter VI - The Executive Chapter VII - The Judiciary Chapter VIII - Political Parties And Elections Chapter IX - Emergency Powers Chapter X - Autonomous Public Commissions Chapter XI - Miscellaneous Chapter XII - Amendments Chapter XIII - Transitional Provisions
CONSTITUTION OF THE REPUBLIC OF LIBERIA
CHAPTER I - STRUCTURE OF THE STATE Article 1. Power of the People Article 2. Supremacy of the Constitution Article 3. Counties of the Republic and Form And Branches of Government
CHAPTER II - GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF NATIONAL POLICY Article 4. Effects of General Principles and Policy Article 5. Principles on Unity and Culture Article 6. Principles on Equality in Educational Opportunities Article 7. Principles on Management of National Economy Article 8. Principles on Non discrimination in Employment Opportunities Article 9. Principles on Regional and Bilateral Cooperation Article 10. Publication, Dissemination and Teaching of the Constitution
CHAPTER III - FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS Article 11 .
Article 12. Prohibition Against Slavery and Forced Labor Article 13.
Article 14. Right to Freedom of Thought, Conscience and Religion Article 15.
Article 16. Right to Privacy Article 17 . Right to Peaceful Assembly and Association Article 18. Right to Equal Opportunity for Work and Employment Article 19. Right not to be Subject to Military Law Article 20.
Article 21.
Article 22.
Article 23.
Article 24.
Article 25. Prohibition Against Impairment of Right to Contract Article 26 . Right to Sue the Republic or other Persons for Fundamental Rights Violations
CHAPTER IV - CITIZENSHIP Article 27.
Article 28. Legislature to Prescribe Standard for Citizenship
CHAPTER V - THE LEGISLATURE Article 29 . Establishment of Legislature Article 30. Qualifications for Membership of Legislature Article 31 . Oath of Members Article 32.
Article 33. Quorum Article 34. Powers of Legislature Article 35. Veto of Proposed Legislation by President Article 36. Remuneration for Members of Legislature Article 37. By Election to Fill Vacancy Article 38 . Power of Legislature to Adopt Own Rules Article 39. Legislature to Authorize Census Article 40. Adjournment of Legislature Article 41 . Languages to Conduct Business Article 42 . Immunity of Members of Legislature Article 43 . Impeachment Power of Legislature Article 44. Contempt of the Legislature Article 45. Term of Office of Senators Article 46. Staggering of Senatorial Terms Article 47 . Election of Officers of Senate Article 48 . Term of Office of Members of House of Representatives Article 49 . Election of Officers of House of Representatives
CHAPTER VI - THE EXECUTIVE Article 50. Establishment of the Office of President and Tenure of Office of President Article 51. Establishment of the Office of Vice President And Prescribing Term of Office Article 52. Qualifications for Election to Office of President And Vice President Article 53. Oath of President and Vice President Article 54. Appointment Power of President Article 55. Appointment Power of President of Notaries Public And Justices of the Peace Article 56 .
Article 57. Presidential Power to Conduct Foreign Affairs Article 58. President to Present Annual Legislative Programs Article 59. Power of President to Pardon Article 60. Compensation for President and Vice President Article 61. Immunity of President Article 62. Removal of President and Vice President from Office Article 63 .
Article 64 . Accession to the Presidency in the Event of Vacancy In Offices of the President and the Vice President
CHAPTER VII - THE JUDICIARY Article 65. Vesting of Judicial Powers in the Supreme Court Article 66. Supreme Court to Have Final Appellate Jurisdiction Article 67. Composition of Supreme Court Article 68. Qualifications for Appointment as Justices of Supreme Court Article 69 . Qualifications for Appointment as Judges of Subordinate Courts Article 70. Oaths of Justices and Judges Article 71 . Tenure and Impeachment of Justices and Judges Article 72 .
Article 73. Immunity of Justices and Judges Article 74. Contempt Power of Courts Article 75 . Power of Supreme Court to Make Rules of Court and Prescribe Code of Conduct for Lawyers Article 76.
CHAPTER VIII- POLITICAL PARTIES AND ELECTIONS Article 77.
Article 78. Definition of "Association", "Political Parties" And "Independent Candidate" Article 79.
Article 80.
Article 81 . Right of Citizen, Political Party, Organization or Association to Canvass for Votes in an Election Article 82.
Article 83.
Article 84. Legislature to Provide Penalties for Violation Of Chapter and Enact Laws in Furtherance Of Constitution
CHAPTER IX - EMERGENCY POWERS Article 85. Power of President to Order Armed Forces into State of Combat Readiness Article 86.
Article 87.
Article 88. The Establishment of Autonomous Public Commission and Power of Legislature to Enact Laws for their Governance
CHAPTER X - AUTONOMOUS PUBLIC COMMISSIONS Article 89. The Establishment of Autonomous Public Commissions and Power of Legislature to Enact Laws for their Governance
CHAPTER XI - MISCELLANEOUS Article 90 .
CHAPTER XII - AMENDMENTS Article 91. Initiation and Process of Amendment Article 92. Publication of Proposal for Amendment and Separately Itemizing Amendments Sought Article 93. Limitation of Presidential Terms of Office
CHAPTER XIII - TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS Article 94.
Article 95 .
Article 96 .
Article 97.
1. Schedule to Form Integral Part of Constitution 2. Oaths for Public Officials
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Last Modified: Thursday, January 22, 2004 12:06