Constitution of Aruba
Encyclopedia
Aruba's State Constitution was unanimously approved by all political parties represented in Aruba
's Parliament on August 9, 1985, and was proclaimed in the Afkondigingsblad van Aruba, No.26, 1985, on August 19, 1985.
The Constitution is based on democratic Western principles and provides for a governor
, appointed by the queen for a six-year term, to oversee the commonwealth's local government. An elected prime minister
heads the local government and receives legislation from the seven-member Council of Ministers. This parliament
has responsibility for legislative, executive and judicial powers. Judicial powers are carried out by the common court, the Justice of Aruba, and at the Supreme Court of the Netherlands.
Aruba's State Constitution approved unanimously on August 9, 1985, was proclaimed in the Dutch language on August 19, and although its translation in Papiamento
, Aruba's National language, was already completed in 1985, it still has not been proclaimed in Papiamento.
On January 1, 1986, Aruba's "Statehood or Independence Day", Aruba became a sovereign, independent, autonomous member State of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
, which now consisted of the three member States: Aruba, the "Staat der Nederlanden" and the "Nederlandse Antillen". The 'Kingdom of the Netherlands' Government handles defense, citizenship and foreign affairs.
Aruba and the other two member states are not fully independent -- Aruba's relation within the 'Kingdom of the Netherlands', based on the self determination referendum held in 1977, the Agreement proclaimed in 1983, the Regulation for the Governor of Aruba and its Constitution in force since August 1985, is more like a commonwealth relationship.
Aruba
Aruba is a 33 km-long island of the Lesser Antilles in the southern Caribbean Sea, located 27 km north of the coast of Venezuela and 130 km east of Guajira Peninsula...
's Parliament on August 9, 1985, and was proclaimed in the Afkondigingsblad van Aruba, No.26, 1985, on August 19, 1985.
The Constitution is based on democratic Western principles and provides for a governor
Governor
A governor is a governing official, usually the executive of a non-sovereign level of government, ranking under the head of state...
, appointed by the queen for a six-year term, to oversee the commonwealth's local government. An elected prime minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
heads the local government and receives legislation from the seven-member Council of Ministers. This parliament
Parliament
A parliament is a legislature, especially in those countries whose system of government is based on the Westminster system modeled after that of the United Kingdom. The name is derived from the French , the action of parler : a parlement is a discussion. The term came to mean a meeting at which...
has responsibility for legislative, executive and judicial powers. Judicial powers are carried out by the common court, the Justice of Aruba, and at the Supreme Court of the Netherlands.
Aruba's State Constitution approved unanimously on August 9, 1985, was proclaimed in the Dutch language on August 19, and although its translation in Papiamento
Papiamento
Papiamento is the most widely spoken language on the Caribbean ABC islands, having the official status on the islands of Aruba and Curaçao. The language is also recognized on Bonaire by the Dutch government....
, Aruba's National language, was already completed in 1985, it still has not been proclaimed in Papiamento.
On January 1, 1986, Aruba's "Statehood or Independence Day", Aruba became a sovereign, independent, autonomous member State of the Kingdom of the Netherlands
Kingdom of the Netherlands
The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a sovereign state and constitutional monarchy with territory in Western Europe and in the Caribbean. The four parts of the Kingdom—Aruba, Curaçao, the Netherlands, and Sint Maarten—are referred to as "countries", and participate on a basis of equality...
, which now consisted of the three member States: Aruba, the "Staat der Nederlanden" and the "Nederlandse Antillen". The 'Kingdom of the Netherlands' Government handles defense, citizenship and foreign affairs.
Aruba and the other two member states are not fully independent -- Aruba's relation within the 'Kingdom of the Netherlands', based on the self determination referendum held in 1977, the Agreement proclaimed in 1983, the Regulation for the Governor of Aruba and its Constitution in force since August 1985, is more like a commonwealth relationship.