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The Constitution of Republic of Armenia

The Armenian People, recognizing as a basis the fundamental principles of the Armenian statehood and national aspirations engraved in the Declaration of Independence of Armenia, having fulfilled the sacred message of its freedom loving ancestors for the restoration of the sovereign state, committed to the strengthening and prosperity of the fatherland, to ensure the freedom, general well being and civic harmony of future generations, declaring their faithfulness to universal values, hereby adopts the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia.

(WITH AMENDMENTS)

Article 1

The Republic of Armenia is a sovereign, democratic, social state governed by rule of law.

Article 2

In the Republic of Armenia the power belongs to the people.

The people exercise their power through free elections, referenda, as well as through state and local self-governing bodies and public officials as provided by the Constitution.

The usurpation of power by any organization or individual constitutes a crime.

Article 3

The human being, his/her dignity and the fundamental human rights and freedoms are an ultimate value.

The state shall ensure the protection of fundamental human and civil rights in conformity with the principles and norms of the international law.

The state shall be limited by fundamental human and civil rights as a directly applicable right.

Article 4

The elections of the President of the Republic, the National Assembly and local self-government bodies, as well as referenda shall be held on the basis of the right to universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot.

Article 5

The state power shall be exercised in conformity with the Constitution and the laws based on the principle of the separation and balance of the legislative, executive and judicial powers.

State and local self-government bodies and public officials are competent to perform only such acts for which they are authorized by Constitution or laws.

Article 6

The Constitution of the Republic has shall have supreme legal force and the norms thereof shall apply directly.

The laws shall conform to the Constitution. Other legal acts shall conform to the Constitution and the laws.

The laws shall come into force following the official publication in the Official Bulletin. Other normative legal acts shall come into force following the official publication in the manner prescribed by law.

The international treaties shall come into force only after being ratified or approved. The international treaties are a constituent part of the legal system of the Republic of Armenia. If a ratified international treaty stipulates norms other than those stipulated in the laws, the norms of the treaty shall prevail. The international treaties not complying with the Constitution can not be ratified.

The normative legal acts shall be adopted on the basis of the Constitution and laws and for the purpose of the ensuring their implementation.

Article 7

The ideological pluralism and multiparty system are recognized in the Republic of Armenia.

Parties are formed freely and promote the formulation and expression of the political will of the people. Their activities may not contravene the Constitution and the laws, nor may their practice contravene the principles of democracy.

Parties shall ensure the openness of their financial activities.

Article 8

The right to property is recognized and protected in the Republic of Armenia.

Freedom of economic activity and free economic competition is guaranteed in the Republic of Armenia.

Article 8.1

The church shall be separate from the state in the Republic of Armenia.

The Republic of Armenia recognizes the exclusive historical mission of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church as a national church, in the spiritual life, development of the national culture and preservation of the national identity of the people of Armenia.

Freedom of activities for all religious organizations in accordance with the law shall be guaranteed in the Republic of Armenia.

The relations of the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church may be regulated by the law.

Article 8.2

The armed forces of the Republic of Armenia shall ensure security, defense and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, as well as inviolability of its borders. The armed forces shall maintain neutrality in political matters and remain under civilian control.

Article 9

The foreign policy of the Republic of Armenia shall be conducted in accordance with the principles and norms of the international law, with the aim of establishing good neighborly and mutually beneficial relations with all states.

Article 10

The state shall ensure the protection and reproduction of the environment and the reasonable utilization of natural resources.

Article 11

Historical and cultural monuments and other cultural values are under the care and protection of the state.

Within the framework of the principles and norms of the international law the Republic of Armenia shall contribute to fostering relations with the Armenian Diaspora, protecting the Armenian historical and cultural values located in other countries, advancing the Armenian education and culture.

Article 11.1

Regions and communities shall be the administrative-territorial units in the Republic of Armenia.

Article 11.2

The Republic of Armenia guarantees the local self-governance.

Article 11.3

The citizens of the Republic of Armenia shall be under the protection of the Republic of Armenia within the territory of the Republic of Armenia and beyond its borders.

Armenians by birth shall acquire citizenship of the Republic of Armenia through a simplified procedure.

The rights and responsibilities of citizens with dual citizenship shall be defined by law.

Article 12

The state language of the Republic of Armenia is the Armenian.

Article 13

The flag of the Republic of Armenia is tricolor made of three horizontal and equal strips of red, blue, and orange.

The coat of arms of the Republic of Armenia depicts, in the center on a shield, Mount Ararat with Noah’s ark and the coats of arms of the four kingdoms of historical Armenia. The shield is supported by a lion and an eagle while a sword, a branch, a sheaf, a chain and a ribbon are portrayed under the shield.

Details of the flag and the coat of arms shall be defined by law.

The national anthem of the Republic of Armenia shall be defined by law.

The capital of the Republic of Armenia is Yerevan.