Constitution of Tajikistan
The Constitution of Tajikistan was adopted on 6 November 1994 and amended three times, on 26 September 1999, on 22 June 2003 and on 22 May 2016.
The Constitution has the highest legal power, direct application and supremacy on the whole territory of Tajikistan. The Constitution proclaims the establishment of a democratic, legal, secular and unitary State, where the State power is based on the principle of separation of powers. As the fundamental law of the State, the Constitution defines the structure of the government, basic rights, liberties and responsibilities of its citizens, as well as the powers of the legislative, executive and judicial branches. Article 2 of the Constitution defines Tajik and Russian as the official languages of Tajikistan; the former being the national language and the second being the "language of interethnic communication".
The bicameral Supreme Assembly adopts constitutional laws, laws and resolutions, while the President adopts decrees and orders and the Cabinet of Ministers adopts resolutions and orders.
Article 1
The Republic of Tajikistan is a sovereign, democratic, constitutional, secular, and unitary state.Article 2
The state (national) language of Tajikistan shall be Tajik. Russian shall be the language of international communication. All nationalities and peoples living on the territory of the republic shall have the right to use their mother tongue.Article 4
The capital of Tajikistan is the city of Dushanbe.Article 5
The life, the honor, the dignity, and other natural human rights are inviolable. Human rights and freedoms are recognized, observed, and protected by the state.Article 8
Public life in Tajikistan develops on the basis of political and ideological pluralism. No single ideology, including a religious ideology, may be adopted as the ideology of the state.Article 9
The state power is divided into legislative, executive, and judicial branches.Article 11
Tajikistan implements a peace-loving policy, respects the sovereignty and independence of other states, determines its external policy on the basis of international norms. War propaganda is prohibited.Article 12
The economy of Tajikistan is based on different forms of ownership. The state guarantees freedom of economic and entrepreneurial activity, equality of rights, and legal protection of all forms of ownership, including private property.Article 13
The land, the mineral resources, the water, the air space, the animal and plant kingdom, and other natural resources are the exclusive property of the state, and the state guarantees their efficient use in the interest of the people.Other chapters
- Chapter 2 deals with human rights, freedoms, and basic duties of citizens and residents
- Chapter 3 is devoted to the legislative branch Majlisi Oli. According to the 1999 Constitution, Majlisi Oli consists of two chambers: The National Assembly, the upper chamber and the Assembly of Representatives, the lower chamber.
- Chapter 4 is devoted to the President. According to the 1999 Constitution, the President is elected for a term of 7 years in direct popular elections. A president may not serve more than two consecutive terms.
- Chapter 5 is devoted to the executive branch
- Chapter 6 deals with local government
- Chapters 8 and 9 deal with the judicial branch