Constitution of East Timor
Encyclopedia
The Constitution
of East Timor
entered into force on 20 May 2002, and was the country's first constitution after it gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and from Indonesia, which invaded East Timor on December 7, 1975 and left in 1999 following a UN-sponsored referendum.
The Constitution was drafted by the Constituent Assembly
elected for this purpose in 2001
. Pursuant to an UNTAET regulation, the constitution did not need support in a referendum, but entered into force on the day of independence of East Timor after it was approved by the assembly.
There are two versions of the Constitution, one in each of the country's official languages, Tetum and Portuguese
.
The Constitution consists of seven parts, namely:
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
of East Timor
East Timor
The Democratic Republic of Timor-Leste, commonly known as East Timor , is a state in Southeast Asia. It comprises the eastern half of the island of Timor, the nearby islands of Atauro and Jaco, and Oecusse, an exclave on the northwestern side of the island, within Indonesian West Timor...
entered into force on 20 May 2002, and was the country's first constitution after it gained independence from Portugal in 1975 and from Indonesia, which invaded East Timor on December 7, 1975 and left in 1999 following a UN-sponsored referendum.
The Constitution was drafted by the Constituent Assembly
Constituent assembly
A constituent assembly is a body composed for the purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution...
elected for this purpose in 2001
East Timorese parliamentary election, 2001
Constituent Assembly elections were held in East Timor on 30 August 2001, the second anniversary of the independence referendum. One member was elected from each of the country's thirteen districts, whilst a further 75 were elected by proportional representation. The result was a victory for the...
. Pursuant to an UNTAET regulation, the constitution did not need support in a referendum, but entered into force on the day of independence of East Timor after it was approved by the assembly.
There are two versions of the Constitution, one in each of the country's official languages, Tetum and Portuguese
Portuguese language
Portuguese is a Romance language that arose in the medieval Kingdom of Galicia, nowadays Galicia and Northern Portugal. The southern part of the Kingdom of Galicia became independent as the County of Portugal in 1095...
.
The Constitution consists of seven parts, namely:
- I. Fundamental principles
- II. Fundamental rights, duties, liberties and guarantees
- III. Organisation of political power (including the provisions about the three branches of government)
- IV. Economic and financial organisation
- V. National defence and security
- VI. Guarantee and revision of the Constitution
- VII. Final and transitional provisions