Constitution of Azerbaijan

The Constitution of Azerbaijan ( Azerbaijani: Azərbaycan konstitusiyası ) is the "highest legal force " of the Republic of Azerbaijan.

It was approved by a referendum on 12 November 1995 and entered into force on 23 November 1995. It defines Azerbaijan as a republic with a presidential system and has a comprehensive catalog of human rights.

The Constitution is an integral part of the policy of Azerbaijan. It defines Azerbaijan as a democratic republic and has chapters on the fundamental rights of Azerbaijani citizens and the principle of separation of powers as a principle for state-building. It represents a model of the Azerbaijani law

The exclave of Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic as has its own constitution.

Features

In form and content, the document is the written constitution of a democratic, secular state with unitarian form of government in which the Azerbaijan Republic is committed to the principle of separation of powers as a principle for state-building, whose state power consists of legislative, executive and judicial branches.

The Constitution enjoys supreme legal force and may be adopted, amended only by referendum. No law may contradict it. With the entry into force and its amendments and supplements all hitherto existing legislation with constitutional content must be reconciled and any laws be repealed, which are in contradiction with it.

The President of the Republic of Azerbaijan as head of state is considered as the guarantor of the Constitution. The obligation to respect and comply with the Constitution is a part of his constitutional oath.

Structure and Content

The Constitution consists of a preamble and 156 articles that are divided into 5 sections and 12 chapters.

Due to its model function the Constitution occupies a special place among the sources of law in the country.

Article 7 of the Constitution takes you that the state power consists of legislative, executive and judicial branches. These are interactive and independently within the framework of its powers under the constitutional rules.

Constitutional court

On the constitutional preservation and for constitutional complaints a Constitutional Court was formed on July 4, 1998, which offers the possibility of individual action. It consists of nine judges.

Among the sources of constitutional law, including laws and acts of the President, the Parliament and the Government of Azerbaijan.

Referendum 2009

On 18 March 2009 a referendum was adopted on proposed constitutional amendments. It determined that the term of office of the President is no longer to be limited to two terms and (not explained in greater detail ) " military operations " can be extended up to the end at times.

The Foreign Office describes the processes in the lead up to the referendum, there were arrests of opposition activists wanted to collect signatures for the limitation of the term of office of the President, as well as intimidation of citizens who had signed such documents. Opposition and observers expressed doubts about the official turnout of 71 percent.