Constitution of Turkmenistan
Constitution of the Republic of Turkmenistan | |
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![]() Official version of the Constitution of Turkmenistan | |
Assembly of Turkmenistan | |
Territorial extent | Turkmenistan |
Enacted | 18 May 1992 |
Signed by | Citizens of Turkmenistan |
Status: In force |
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The Constitution of Turkmenistan adopted on 18 May 1992 is the
The 1992 constitution was amended in 1995, 1999, 2003[1] and 2006.[2] It was amended on 26 September 2008, abolishing the 2,500-member People's Council (Halk Maslahaty) and expanding the elected Assembly (Mejlis) from 65 to 125 members.[3] A new constitution was adopted on 14 September, 2016. State Flag and Constitution Day is celebrated on 18 May.
Constitution of the Turkmen SSR
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c1/Cover_of_the_1926_Constitution_of_the_Turkmen_SSR%2C_1929.jpg/170px-Cover_of_the_1926_Constitution_of_the_Turkmen_SSR%2C_1929.jpg)
There were three Constitutions of the Turkmen Soviet Socialist Republic, enacted in 1927, 1937, and 1978. The last was superseded by the modern Constitution of Turkmenistan, which came into force in 1992. It has since been amended in 2008 and 2016.[4]
Overview
Section 1
Section 1 of the 2008 Constitution is composed of 17 articles (15 articles in the 1992 Constitution). Article 1 describes Turkmenistan as a
Article 4 endorses a separation of powers, including judicial independence. Article 14 (13 in the 1992 Constitution) establishes the Turkmen language as the official language and article 17 (15 in the 1992 Constitution) confirms Ashgabat as the capital city.
Two new articles added in the 2008 Constitution declare the state's commitment to the market economy, including encouragement of small and medium-sized business (Article 10), and specify the
Section 2
Section 2 outlines rights of individuals and citizens. Civil and political rights include
Article 21 (1992:19) states that the exercise of individual rights and freedoms should not impinge on the rights and freedoms of other individuals and can be limited by considerations of morality, law, and public order. Article 22 declares that everybody has the right to life and that capital punishment is abolished in Turkmenistan. The 1992 Constitution allowed capital punishment, but only for "the heaviest of crimes" (article 20), and this provision was subsequently annulled by a 1999 presidential decree that abolished capital punishment.[5] Finally, Section 2 lists some obligations on citizens, including serving in the military (article 41; 1992:38) and paying taxes (article 42; 1992:39).
Section 3
Section 3 describes the organs of government in Turkmenistan. The state power is vested with the
Articles 50-58 of the 2008 Constitution (54-61 of the 1992 Constitution) describe the powers of the President of Turkmenistan. The President is the head of state and also the head of government (Article 50). The President is in charge of Turkmenistan's foreign policy and is the country's commander-in-chief (Article 53). In addition to signing laws enacted by Mejlis, he may issue Presidential decrees that have the power of law in Turkmenistan (Article 54).
References
- ^ "ОПУБЛИКОВАНА КОНСТИТУЦИЯ ТУРКМЕНИСТАНА С УЧЕТОМ ВНЕСЕННЫХ В НЕЕ ИЗМЕНЕНИЙ И ДОПОЛНЕНИЙ". Turkmenistan.ru. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ "КОНСТИТУЦИОННЫЙ ЗАКОН ТУРКМЕНИСТАНА". Turkmenistan.ru. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ "World Bulletin [ Turkmenistan adopts investor-friendly constitution ]". Archived from the original on 2008-10-07. Retrieved 2008-09-26.
- ^ Johnson, Constance (20 September 2016). "Turkmenistan: Amended Constitution Lengthens Terms of Presidents - Global Legal Monitor". Loc.gov. Retrieved 23 February 2019.
- ^ Abolition of capital punishment Archived 2016-11-26 at the Wayback Machine, Presidential Decree 3003, 28 December 1999 (in Russian)
External links
- 1992 Constitution of Turkmenistan Archived 2015-04-14 at the Wayback Machine (as of 1997), unofficial English translation, University of Texas at Arlington, URL accessed 27 December 2006.
- 2008 Constitution of Turkmenistan, Ashgabat, 2008, 54 pp. (in Russian)