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Constitution of the Maldives

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This article is part of a series on the
Politics of the
Maldives
Government
Executive
President of the Maldives
Mohamed Muizzu

Vice President of the Maldives
Hussain Mohamed Latheef

Legislature

People's Majlis
Speaker Abdul Raheem Abdulla
Deputy Speaker Ahmed Nazim

Parliament Members
Judiciary
Chief Justice
Ahmed Muthasim Adnan
Elections
National Elections

Presidential elections

Parliamentary Elections

Referendums

Political parties
Government

Others

Administrative divisions
Administrative divisions of the Maldives
Foreign relations
Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Minister Moosa Zameer

The Constitution of the Maldives is the supreme law of the country of Maldives. It provides the legal foundation for the existence of the Republic of Maldives, sets out the rights and duties of the citizens of Maldives, and defines the structure of the Government of the Maldives. The current Constitution of Maldives was ratified by President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom on 7 August 2008, and came into effect immediately, replacing and repealing the Constitution of 1998.

The current constitution is known by its short title, Constitution of the Republic of Maldives, 2008.

History

Sultanate and First Republic

The first written constitution of the Maldives was brought to effect in 1932,[1] by Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III. This constitution was largely based on customs, conventions and other traditional administrative practices that had been followed for many centuries. This constitution was written on the advice on the then acting Governor of Ceylon, Bernard H. Bourdill in 1930. Soon afterwards in 1934, a second constitution was written and brought into effect. In that same year, Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III was deposed for violating his own constitution. Under the rule of Sultan Hassan Nooraddeen II, a third constitution was written and brought into effect. on 30 January 1940, the constitutional system was deemed unnecessary and was abolished; only to be reinitiated in 1942. (5th constitution) After another constitution change in 1951, the Maldives was declared a republic in 1953.[1]

Under the rule of President Mohamed Ameen Didi, a new constitution (7th) was brought into effect. This constitution lasted only 8 months, when the republic was abolished and the country went back to a sultanate, under the rule of Sultan Muhammad Fareed Didi. This change introduced yet another constitution brought to effect on 7 March 1954. This was followed by a 9th constitution in 1964 and another in 1967.[1]

Second Republic

After the second republic was declared, new president Ibrahim Nasir ratified a new constitution on 11 November 1968. This constitution was amended thrice, in 1970, 1972 and 1975 respectively.[1]

Under the rule of president Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom, a 12th constitution was introduced in 1998. The government proclaimed that this change was brought to encourage the people of the country to live in friendship, amity and co-operation, and to encourage good deeds and respect among one another and being just, and to live in equality and fraternity.[2]

In June 2008, an assembly, called the "Special Majlis", competed a new constitution.[3] It was ratified by the president on 7 August 2008. This constitution was written over a period of 4 years, started in 2003 when President Gayyoom promised a new 'modern, multi-party and democratic system' in the country following the 2003 Maldives civil unrest and others that followed.[4] This new constitution includes a judiciary run by an independent commission, and independent commissions to oversee elections and fight corruption. It also reduces the executive powers vested under the president and strengthens the parliament. Among other changes, it states that "a non-Muslim may not become a citizen of the Maldives".[5]

Features

The constitution consists of a preamble, fourteen chapters followed by three schedules. Each chapter and schedule focus on a specific topic. The following is a list of chapters and schedules and the focus of each.

Chapters

  • Chapter 1 - State, Sovereignty and Citizens
  • Chapter 2 - Fundamental Rights and Freedoms
  • Chapter 3 - The People's Majlis
  • Chapter 4 - The President
  • Chapter 5 - The Cabinet of Ministries
  • Chapter 6 - The Judiciary
  • Chapter 7 - Independent Commissions and Offices
  • Chapter 8 - Decentralized Administration
  • Chapter 9 - Security Services
  • Chapter 10 - Properties, Liabilities and Legal Actions of the State
  • Chapter 11 - State of Emergency
  • Chapter 12 - Amendment of, .,. the Constitution
  • Chapter 14 - Transitional Matters

Schedules

  • Schedule 1 - Oaths of Office
  • Schedule 2 - Administrative Divisions
  • Schedule 3 - National Flag

Amendments

As of July 2015, there has been 1 amendment made to the Constitution of the Maldives, since it was enacted in 2008.

No. Amendments Enforced since Objectives
1 Amend article 109. 25 June 2015 [6] To change the age criterion for a person to be qualified for election as President, to a minimum 30 years old, and a maximum 65 years old. [7][8]

Previous Constitutions

[1]

No. Constitution Date ratified Date abolished Head of Government Amendments Notes
1 Constitution of the Maldives, 1932 22-12-1932 05-07-1934 Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III N/A First constitution.
2 Constitution of the Maldives, 1934 05-07-1934 28-01-1937 Sultan Muhammad Shamsuddeen III 16-07-1936 To meet growing public demands.
3 Constitution of the Maldives, 1937 28-01-1937 30-01-1940 Sultan Hassan Nooraddeen II - Amending entire 2nd constitution.
4 Constitution of the Maldives, 1942 23-04-1942 31-05-1951 Sultan Hassan Nooraddeen II Yes Reinitiated constitutional system.
5 Constitution of the Maldives, 1942 31-05-1951 1953 Sultan Hassan Nooraddeen II -
6 Constitution of the Republic of Maldives, 1954 1953 31-01-1954 President Mohamed Amin Didi -
7 Constitution of the Maldives, 1954 07-03-1954 14-06-1964 Sultan Muhammad Fareed Didi -
8 Constitution of the Maldives, 1964 14-06-1964 10-06-1967 Sultan Muhammad Fareed Didi - Major amend.
9 Constitution of the Maldives, 1967 10-07-1967 11-11-1968 Sultan Muhammad Fareed Didi - Major amend.
10 Constitution of the Republic of Maldives, 1968 11-11-1968 27-11-1998 President Ibrahim Nasir 23-04-1970
02-02-1972
15-04-1975
11 Constitution of the Republic of Maldives, 1997 27-11-1997 07-08-2008 President Maumoon Abdul Gayyoom 1

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e http://www.un.int/maldives/histcon.htm
  2. ^ http://www.maldivesroyalfamily.com/maldives_constitution.shtml
  3. ^ CIA World Factbook - Maldives
  4. ^ http://southasia.oneworld.net/todaysheadlines/presidential-nod-for-a-new-constitution-for-maldives
  5. ^ Constitution of Maldives – Article 9 D
  6. ^ "President ratifies First Amendment to the Constitution". The Presidency Maldives. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  7. ^ "Majlis passes Bill on Amendment to the Constitution". People's Majlis. 24 June 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  8. ^ "ދިވެހިރާއްޖޭގެ ޖުމްހޫރިއްޔާގެ ޤާނޫނުއަސާސީއަށް 1 ވަނަ އިޞްލާޙު ގެނައުމުގެ ޤާނޫނު" (PDF). ޤާނޫނު ނަންބަރު: 16/2015 (in Divehi). Gazette of the Maldivian Government. 25 June 2015. Retrieved 12 July 2015.

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