Charter of Fundamental Rights and Basic Freedoms
Encyclopedia
The Charter of Fundamental Rights and Basic Freedoms is a document enacted in 1991 by the Czechoslovak Federal Republic, and continued as part of the great constitutional systems of both the Czech Republic
and Slovak Republic. In the Czech Republic the document was kept in its entirety in its 1991 form as a separate document from the constitution
, but imbued with the same legal standing as the constitution. By contrast, the basic provisions of the Charter were integrated directly into the Slovak constitution. Though these legal provisions articles are substantively the same, there are some differences, such as the Slovak contention that "the privacy of correspondence and secrecy of mailed messages and other
written documents and the protection of personal data are guaranteed."
The inclusion of the goals of the Charter directly into the Slovak constitution means that only the Czech Republic
currently has a "Charter of Fundamental Rights and Basic Freedoms". This article is therefore principally about that document, and its predecessor in the Czechoslovak Federal Republic.
, although its provisions tend to be more specific, and imbue its citizens with more and different rights than in United States constitutional law
, which by contrast recognizes and protects natural rights rather than grant legal entitlement.
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
and Slovak Republic. In the Czech Republic the document was kept in its entirety in its 1991 form as a separate document from the constitution
Constitution of the Czech Republic
The current Constitution of the Czech Republic was adopted on December 16, 1992. It replaced the constitution of Czechoslovakia , which split into the Slovak Republic and the Czech Republic by act of parliament on January 1, 1993, through the so-called Velvet Divorce.The document is organized into...
, but imbued with the same legal standing as the constitution. By contrast, the basic provisions of the Charter were integrated directly into the Slovak constitution. Though these legal provisions articles are substantively the same, there are some differences, such as the Slovak contention that "the privacy of correspondence and secrecy of mailed messages and other
written documents and the protection of personal data are guaranteed."
The inclusion of the goals of the Charter directly into the Slovak constitution means that only the Czech Republic
Czech Republic
The Czech Republic is a landlocked country in Central Europe. The country is bordered by Poland to the northeast, Slovakia to the east, Austria to the south, and Germany to the west and northwest....
currently has a "Charter of Fundamental Rights and Basic Freedoms". This article is therefore principally about that document, and its predecessor in the Czechoslovak Federal Republic.
Comparisons with other human rights legislation
The document is somewhat analogous to the United States Bill of RightsUnited States Bill of Rights
The Bill of Rights is the collective name for the first ten amendments to the United States Constitution. These limitations serve to protect the natural rights of liberty and property. They guarantee a number of personal freedoms, limit the government's power in judicial and other proceedings, and...
, although its provisions tend to be more specific, and imbue its citizens with more and different rights than in United States constitutional law
United States constitutional law
United States constitutional law is the body of law governing the interpretation and implementation of the United States Constitution.- Introduction :United States constitutional law defines the scope and application of the terms of the Constitution...
, which by contrast recognizes and protects natural rights rather than grant legal entitlement.