12 November – Constitution Day

12 November, 2024
12 November – Constitution Day

12 November is the Constitution Day of the Republic of Azerbaijan. It has been 27 years since the Basic Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan was adopted.

The first Constitution of the independent Azerbaijan, prepared under the leadership of the National Leader Heydar Aliyev, was adopted through popular referendum on 12 November 1995. The Basic Law of the State gained force on 27 November 1995.

The 1995 Constitution is the first for independent Azerbaijan, however it is the fourth Constitution in the history of our country. The history of the constitutional structure of Azerbaijan dates back to the USSR. The first Constitution of Azerbaijan was adopted on 19 May 1921, the new edition to accord to the USSR Constitution was later adopted on 14 March 1925. The last Constitution adopted on 21 April 1978 was also adapted to the USSR Constitution similar to previous ones.

The Constitutional Commission chaired by the great leader Heydar Aliyev was established in May 1995. The complete and comprehensive draft of the Constitution, prepared by the commission, was then submitted for popular feedback. The first Constitution of the independent Republic of Azerbaijan was put to national vote on 12 November 1995. 86 percent of voters participated in the referendum, 91.9% of them voting in favour of adopting the Constitution. The Basic Law of State gained force on 27 November.

Unlike the former Soviet constitutions, the Constitution of Independent Azerbaijan declared the provision of human and civil rights and freedoms as the supreme goal of the state and defined the main principles of the division of power. It assigned the protection of human and civil rights and freedoms as a major task of legislative, executive, and judicial authorities. It is no coincidence that the principles of inviolability of personality protection of human life and health, provision of a decent standard of living, humanism and humanitarianism constitute the essence of the Constitution of Azerbaijan. The human rights and freedoms are allocated a large section in the constitution, comprising 5 sections, 12 chapters and 158 articles, which is a direct indicator of our country's commitment to the ideals of democracy.

The Constitution of the Independent Republic of Azerbaijan laid the legal basis for democratic, legal, and secular state building in the country and became a strong impetus for its development. 12 November – the day constitution was adopted – also marks the first multi-party democratic elections for the republican parliament. Considering the exceptional significance of the first Constitution in the history of national statehood, the Decree dated 1 November 1996 established 12 November as the Constitution Day to be celebrated annually.  

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