Constitution Day In Belarus 2024

Embark on a journey through the pages of history as we celebrate Constitution Day in Belarus. Uncover the stories, principles, and aspirations that shape our nation’s democratic identity.

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QUICK FACTS

• Date: March 15
• Main Components: The Constitution of Belarus is the fundamental law of the state that defines the principles of the constitutional system, the rights and duties of citizens, and the structure and functions of the government.
• Popularity: Constitution Day is a national holiday in Belarus, but it is not celebrated with much fanfare. It is a source of pride and patriotism for citizens who value their democratic and nationalist ideals.
• Pairings: Constitution Day is usually paired with other civic and educational events, such as lectures, seminars, exhibitions, and contests, that promote the awareness and appreciation of the constitution and the rule of law.
• Variations: Constitution Day has been observed on different dates in the history of Belarus, depending on the adoption or amendment of the constitution. The current date of March 15 was established in 1994, when the first constitution of an independent Belarus was adopted.

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Introduction

• The Constitution of Belarus is the fundamental law of the state that defines the principles of the constitutional system, the rights and duties of citizens, and the structure and functions of the government.
• The current Constitution of Belarus was adopted by a referendum on November 24, 1996 and amended by two subsequent referendums in 2004 and 2020.
• The Constitution of Belarus has been criticized by opposition parties, human rights groups, and international organizations for concentrating too much power in the hands of the President of the Republic of Belarus, violating civil rights and freedoms, and undermining the independence of the judiciary .
• Constitution Day of the Republic of Belarus is observed every year on March 15. It commemorates the date that Belarus adopted the country’s Basic Law — three years after declaring independence from the Soviet Union — and became a democratic nation governed by the institution of the presidency.
• Constitution Day is a national holiday in Belarus, but it is not celebrated with much fanfare. It is a source of pride and patriotism for citizens who value their democratic and nationalist ideals.
• Constitution Day is usually paired with other civic and educational events, such as lectures, seminars, exhibitions, and contests, that promote the awareness and appreciation of the constitution and the rule of law.

History

• The history of the Constitution of Belarus can be traced back to the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Belarus on July 27, 1990, which proclaimed Belarus as a sovereign and democratic state within the Soviet Union.
• The first Constitution of Belarus was adopted by the Supreme Council of Belarus on March 15, 1994, after Belarus declared its independence from the Soviet Union on August 25, 1991.
• The 1994 Constitution established a parliamentary republic with a bicameral legislature (the National Assembly) and a directly elected president as the head of state and the commander-in-chief of the Belarusian Armed Forces.
• The 1994 Constitution was amended by a referendum on November 24, 1996, which was initiated by the President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, who took office in 1994.
• The 1996 referendum introduced major changes to the Constitution, such as:
  • Expanding the powers of the president, who could now appoint and dismiss the prime minister, the cabinet heads, the judges and prosecutors, the chairman of the National Bank of Belarus, and the members of the Constitutional Court.
  • Reducing the size and authority of the parliament, which was renamed from the Supreme Council to the National Assembly and restructured from a bicameral to a unicameral body with fewer deputies.
  • Extending the term of office of the president from five to seven years and allowing the president to run for unlimited terms.
  • Abolishing the Constitutional Court and replacing it with a Constitutional Commission under the president’s control.
  • Changing the national symbols of Belarus from the Pahonia (a knight on a horse) and the white-red-white flag to the Soviet-style coat of arms and the red-green flag.
• The 1996 referendum was boycotted by the opposition and condemned by the international community as undemocratic and unconstitutional .
• The 1996 Constitution was further amended by two more referendums in 2004 and 2020, which granted more immunity and privileges to the president and his family, removed the age limit for presidential candidates, and allowed the president to dissolve the parliament under certain circumstances .
• The 2020 referendum was held amid the mass protests and civil unrest that erupted after the disputed presidential election on August 9, 2020, which was widely regarded as fraudulent and rigged in favor of Lukashenko .
• The 2020 referendum was also rejected by the opposition and criticized by the international community as illegitimate and manipulative .

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Structure and Content

• The Constitution of Belarus consists of a preamble and nine sections with 146 articles.
• The preamble states the historical background, the national identity, and the ideological orientation of the Belarusian people and their state.
• The nine sections are as follows:
• Section One: Principles of the Constitutional System
• This section defines the basic principles of the Belarusian state, such as sovereignty, territorial integrity, democracy, rule of law, social justice, human rights, and peaceful coexistence with other nations.
• This section also declares Belarus as a unitary, presidential republic with a mixed electoral system and a pluralistic political system.
• Section Two: The Individual, Society and the State
• This section outlines the rights and freedoms of the citizens of Belarus, such as equality, dignity, privacy, expression, assembly, religion, education, health, work, and social security.
• This section also specifies the duties and responsibilities of the citizens, such as obeying the law, defending the state, paying taxes, and respecting the environment.
• This section also regulates the relations between the individual, the society, and the state, such as protection, participation, cooperation, and control.
• Section Three: Electoral System. Referendum
• This section establishes the rules and procedures for conducting elections and referendums in Belarus, such as universal, equal, direct, and secret suffrage, electoral commissions, electoral districts, electoral lists, electoral campaigns, electoral observers, and electoral disputes.
• This section also defines the eligibility and incompatibility criteria for candidates and voters, such as age, citizenship, residence, criminal record, and public office.
• Section Four: President of the Republic of Belarus
• This section describes the status and functions of the President of the Republic of Belarus, who is the head of state, the head of the executive branch, and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
• This section also determines the powers and duties of the president, such as representing the state, appointing and dismissing the prime minister, the cabinet heads, the judges and prosecutors, the chairman of the National Bank of Belarus, and the members of the Constitutional Court, issuing decrees and orders, initiating legislation and referendums, granting pardons and awards, declaring states of emergency and martial law, and dissolving the parliament under certain circumstances.
• This section also stipulates the term of office and the procedure of election of the president, which is five years and by a majority vote in a two-round system.
• This section also regulates the accountability and the immunity of the president, such as taking an oath, submitting reports, suspending and terminating the powers,
• Section Five: Parliament of the Republic of Belarus. National Assembly – This section defines the structure and functions of the Parliament of the Republic of Belarus, which is the legislative branch of the state and consists of two chambers: the House of Representatives and the Council of the Republic. – This section also determines the powers and duties of the parliament, such as making laws, approving the budget, ratifying treaties, overseeing the government, electing the judges of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court, and impeaching the president. – This section also stipulates the term of office and the procedure of election of the deputies of the parliament, which is four years and by a majority vote in a single-member district for the House of Representatives, and by a proportional representation system for the Council of the Republic. – This section also regulates the accountability and the immunity of the deputies of the parliament, such as taking an oath, submitting reports, suspending and terminating the powers, and prosecuting and impeaching the deputies.
• Section Six: Government of the Republic of Belarus
• This section describes the composition and functions of the Government of the Republic of Belarus, which is the executive branch of the state and consists of the Council of Ministers and other central and local bodies of state administration.
• This section also determines the powers and duties of the government, such as implementing the laws, managing the economy, conducting foreign policy, ensuring public order, and coordinating the activities of the ministries and other state agencies.
• This section also stipulates the term of office and the procedure of appointment of the prime minister and the cabinet heads, which is five years and by the president’s proposal and the parliament’s approval.
• This section also regulates the accountability and the immunity of the prime minister and the cabinet heads, such as taking an oath, submitting reports, suspending and terminating the powers, and prosecuting and impeaching the prime minister and the cabinet heads.
• Section Seven: Courts and Justice
• This section defines the structure and functions of the Courts and Justice system, which is the judicial branch of the state and consists of the Supreme Court, the Constitutional Court, and other specialized and local courts.
• This section also determines the powers and duties of the courts, such as administering justice, interpreting the law, protecting the rights and freedoms, and resolving disputes between the individuals, the organizations, and the state.
• This section also stipulates the term of office and the procedure of appointment of the judges, which is five years for the local courts, ten years for the specialized courts, and eleven years for the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court. The judges of the local courts are appointed by the president, the judges of the specialized courts are elected by the parliament, and the judges of the Supreme Court and the Constitutional Court are appointed by the president with the parliament’s consent.
• This section also regulates the accountability and the immunity of the judges, such as taking an oath, submitting reports, suspending and terminating the powers, and prosecuting and impeaching the judges.
• This section also establishes the principles and procedures of the judicial review, which is the power of the Constitutional Court to review the constitutionality of the laws, the decrees, the orders, and the acts of the state organs and the officials.
• Section Eight: Local Government and Self-Government
• This section describes the organization and functions of the Local Government and Self-Government, which are the forms of decentralized administration and public participation in the local affairs.
• This section also determines the powers and duties of the local government and self-government, such as implementing the state policy, providing public services, managing the local budget, and representing the local interests.
• This section also stipulates the term of office and the procedure of election of the local councils and the local executive committees, which are the main organs of the local government and self-government. The local councils are elected by the local residents for four years, and the local executive committees are appointed by the higher executive committees or the president.
• This section also regulates the accountability and the immunity of the local councils and the local executive committees, such as submitting reports, suspending and terminating the powers, and prosecuting and impeaching the local councils and the local executive committees.
• Section Nine: Financial and Credit System of the Republic of Belarus
• This section defines the structure and functions of the Financial and Credit System of the Republic of Belarus, which is the system of financial and monetary regulation and control of the state.
• This section also determines the powers and duties of the financial and credit system, such as formulating and implementing the financial and monetary policy, issuing and circulating the national currency, managing the state debt, supervising the banking and insurance sectors, and auditing the state budget.
• This section also stipulates the term of office and the procedure of appointment of the chairman of the National Bank of Belarus, who is the head of the financial and credit system and the chief banker of the state. The chairman of the National Bank of Belarus is appointed by the president with the parliament’s consent for five years.
• This section also regulates the accountability and the immunity of the chairman of the National Bank of Belarus, such as taking an oath, submitting reports, suspending and terminating the powers, and prosecuting and impeaching the chairman of the National Bank of Belarus.