The following is a guest post by george sadek, senior legal research analyst at the law library of congress last month, a new egyptian constitution was approved in a popular referendum held on january 1415. This inability reinforced the heterogenity of the islamist parties, which benefitted from the scarcity of political consciousness in civil and revolutionary actors to further pursue their campaign of mobilization. Balancing leadership with civil rights alwataniyya electronic journal of islamic and middle eastern law. The arab republic of egypt is a socialist democratic state based on the alliance of the working forces of the people. The egyptian house of representative passed on tuesday proposed amendments to egypt s 2014 constitution, including an amendment that. We are now drafting a constitution that embodies the dream of generations for a prosperous consolidated. Article 3 for the purpose of this law, the term child within the context of care and welfare, shall mean all individuals who have not reached the age of eighteen 18 complete calendar years.
In the current system, the president is elected for a sixyear term, where he is able to appoint up to 5% of the parliament. Mohamed morsi signs egypts new constitution into law. Following the removal of then president mohamed morsi from office on july 3, egypt s militarybacked government began a twophase process of creating a new constitution. The egyptian people are part of the arab nation and work for the realisation of its comprehensive unity. The undp report in 20 stressed that propoor policies and investment in. Freedom, human dignity, and social justice are the rights of every citizen. Egypts new constitution gets 98% yes vote world news. Requirements for acquiring nationality shall be specified by law. The egyptian people are part of the arab nation and work for the realization of its comprehensive unity.
Morsis acceleration of the constitution writing process reflects the increasing impatience of the presidents office and the muslim brotherhood with the faltering transition process in postmubarak egypt. The politics of egypt is based on republicanism, with a semipresidential system of government. Comparing egypts constitutions egyptians will soon vote in a referendum on a new constitution, their second in just over a year. Perspectives on egypts 2014 constitution in custodia. In 2014, egypt adopted a new constitution and elected a new president who was candid with the electorate on the need to reform the economy. The constitution took effect after the results were announced on 18 january 2014. We are drafting a constitution that achieves equality between us in rights and duties. Egypt has operated under several constitutions, both as a monarchy and, after 1952, as a republic. Brown, michele dunne, and amr hamzawy march 23, 2007 a textual analysis nathan j. For starters, the 2014 constitution established the right of mothers to pass on their nationality to their children.
Centre for islamic and middle eastern law, university of zurich, 2015. Constitution online state information service, egypt pdf of constitution in english unofficial translation doc. The 2014 egyptian constitution by maria gloria polimeno 3 2012. Constitution of the arab republic of egypt part one the state article 1 the arab republic of egypt is a democratic, socialist state based on the alliance of the working forces of the people. Carter center urges dialogue and constitutional change to. Why is there a need for a constitutional referendum if there was one in december 2012. This constitution grants women a new quota in the municipal councils amounting to 25 percent, which ensures around thousand female members in the councils. State information service, egypt pdf of constitution in arabic pdf of constitution in arabic.
Nathalie bernardmaugiron should the 2014 egyptian constitution be amended to increase presidential powers. The egyptian constitution of 2014 not only preserved the rights granted to women by previous egyptian constitutions but also introduced more rights aimed at protecting women from other forms of violence and discrimination. Public consultations leading to the referendum were selective and weak. It was the second such document since january 2011, and the fourth considering the two temporary constitutions adopted by constitutional declaration in march. We and our future generations are masters in a sovereign homeland that is master of its destiny. It was accepted by the electorate and is now the law of the land. The freedom and justice party and the islamic bloc, which had won 65. Egypt parliament passes constitutional amendments, extends. Constitution of egypt constitution, egypt britannica. A constitutional amendments referendum was held from 20 to 22 april 2019.
The report of the parliaments legislative committee has embedded the final legal context of the proposed constitutional amendments, including adding 10 new articles and amending 14 others, while an article was added to repeal the titles of two chapters of the constitution. Following rising agitations against britain, which had governed the territory as a protectorate since 1914, and increasing demands for independence, british rule over the territory was formally terminated under the terms of a joint declaration between britain and egypt in 1922. The road of the revolution front announced on 8 january 2014 that it would vote against the constitution. Constitution 2005 the english translation of the egyptian constitution, including amendments made in 2005. In addition, history confirms the islamist existence as inscribed into. Indepth analysis of the main elements of the new constitution abstract despite cautious liberalisation in a few limited areas, egypt s new constitution of january 2014 does not represent a new democratic departure.
Egypt s controversial new constitution has been signed into law by president mohammed morsi, a day after he announced it had been approved by a. The constitution of the arab republic of egypt is the fundamental law of egypt the egyptian constitution of 2014 was passed in a referendum in january 2014. The principles of christian and jewish sharia of egyptian christians. Download pdf this is the unofficial translation of the constitution of egypt 2014, as published by the egyptian state information service sis website. Egypt s controversial constitutional amendments nathan j. Brown and michele dunne egyptians will head to the polls on march 26 in a public referendum on amendments to thirty four articles of the constitution, approved by the peoples assembly on march 19. The current egyptian constitution, enacted in 2014, not only preserves the rights granted to women by previous egyptian constitutions, but also introduces more rights aimed at protecting women from other forms of violence and discrimination. Egypts government services portal laws and constitution. The current political system was established following the egyptian revolution of 2011 and the resignation of president hosni mubarak. The age of the child shall be verified by means of a birth certificate, an identification card, or.
Mansour issued a constitutional declaration setting out a roadmap, which included drafting a new constitution and elections. Constitution of the arab republic of egypt 2014 wipo. Constitution of the arab republic of egypt refworld. The index also noted that the rate of unemployment in egypt among young people was the highest in the arab world in 2012, reaching up to 30%1. Should the 2014 egyptian constitution be amended to.
Over 98% of participants in the first egyptian vote of the postmorsi era voted in favour of approving a new constitution, the countrys electoral commission officially announced on saturday. This document was submitted to a referendum on june 23, 1956. For instance, article 11 focuses on promoting gender equality, stating. Provisions of the constitution summarized preamble the new constitution is the first to be drafted in the name of the egyptian people. Egyptians will soon vote in a referendum on a new constitution, their second in just over a year. The constitutional history of modern egypt can be traced back to the egyptian revolution of 1919. Egypt s referendum on amendments to the 2012 constitution will be held over two days. A preliminary analytical commentary on key constitutional changes to the constitution of the arab republic of egypt introduced by the new 2014 constitution. With its unique location and history, egypt is the arab heart of the world. January 2014 constitutional referendum frequently asked questions page 1 of 8 when is the referendum for a new constitution in egypt. The constitution of the arab republic of egypt is the fundamental law of egypt. Islam is the religion of the state, arabic is its official language and the principles of islamic sharia are the main source of legislation. This is our constitution, egypt is the gift of the nile for egyptians and the gift of egyptians to humanity. The egyptian people, is the sole source of authority.
The government has developed a plan centered on structural reform and investment promotion to raise growth and create jobs, and fiscal adjustment to bring the budget deficit and public debt under control. This is the unofficial translation of the constitution of egypt 2014, as published by the egyptian state information service sis website. Since 2014, french egyptian ties have improved and egypt has purchased major air and naval defense systems from french defense companies. Constitution of the arab republic of egypt,22 september 1971, available at. Blessed with a unique location and history, the arab nation of egypt is the heart of. The first and most liberal of these was the 1923 constitution, which was promulgated just after britain declared egypt s independence.