User:Glide08/Sandbox/Armenia

We, the People of Armenia, grateful to Almighty God for restoring their sovereign statehood, in order to secure to themselves and their posterity the blessings of justice, liberty, and democracy, do hereby ordain, through their freely elected delegates to the Constitutional Convention, and establish, through their freely cast votes in a Referendum, this Constitution.

Article I: The Republic and its Territory

Section 1. The government established by this Constitution shall be known as the Republic of Armenia.

Section 2. Armenia comprises all the territories to which the League of Nations Mandate for Armenia, entrusted to the United States by the Council of the League of Nations, applied, together with all territories over which the so-called "Armenian Soviet Socialist Republic" exercised jurisdiction on the third day of July, nineteen hundred and forty-nine, and all territory over which the Government of the Mandate Territory of Armenia exercised jurisdiction on the same day.

Section 3. Pending the re-integration of the areas under Soviet Occupation into Armenia, the Government established by this Constitution shall exercise jurisdiction only over the territory over which the Government of the Mandate Territory of Armenia exercised jurisdiction on the third day of July, nineteen hundred and forty-nine.

Article II: Directive Principles of Political, Social and Economic Organization

Subarticle 1.

Section 1-1. Armenia is a republican state, governed by the people, of the people, and for the people.

Section 1-2. All persons are born equal; they are by nature free and independent; they have certain natural and unalienable rights, among which are life, liberty, dingity, property, and the pursuit of safety and happiness. This principle must be respected and protected by all authorities of the State.

Section 1-3. All government, of right, originates with the people and is founded upon their will only. The good of the whole constitutes the political foundation of the Republic.

Section 1-4. All power is inherent in and belongs to the people. Government is instituted for the protection, security, and benefit of the people, and they have the right at all times to alter or reform the same, whenever the public good may require it.

Section 1-5. Public officers are the trustees and servants of the people, and at all times, amenable to them.

Section 1-6. Protection to person and property, and the promotion of social justice to insure the well-being and economic security of all the people, are the paramount duty of government, and shall be impartial and complete.

Subarticle 2.

Section 2-1. The Family is the natural primary and fundamental unit group of Society, as well as a moral institution possessing inalienable and imprescriptible rights, antecedent and superior to all positive law. The State guarantees to protect the Family in its constitution and authority, as the necessary basis of social order and as indispensable to the welfare of the Nation and the State.

Section 2-2. The parents have the duty to rear their children for civic efficiency. should receive the aid and support of the Government.

Section 2-3.

Article III: Bill of Rights

Subarticle 1.

Section 1-1. All persons shall be equal before the law. In particular, no person may be prejudiced or favored on the grounds of sex, parentage, race, language, origin, faith, conviction, political opinion, or social and personal conditions, and the state shall endeavor to accord to women equal rights with men in all spheres of economic, state, cultural, social and political life.

Section 1-1. Every person may freely speak, write and publish his sentiments on all subjects, being responsible for the abuse of that right. No law shall be passed to restrain or abridge the freedom of speech or of expression.

Section 1-2. Every person shall be guaranteed freedom of the press.

Section 5. That no law shall be enacted in said Islands which shall deprive any person of life, liberty, or property without due process of law, or deny to any person therein the equal protection of the laws.

That in all criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right to be heard by himself and counsel, to demand the nature and cause of the accusation against him, to have a speedy and public trial, to meet the witnesses face to face, and to have compulsory process to compel the attendance of witnesses in his behalf.

That no person shall be held to answer for a criminal offence without due process of law; and no person for the same offence shall be twice put in jeopardy of punishment, nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself.

That all persons shall before conviction be bailable by sufficient sureties, except for capital offences.

That no law impairing the obligation of contracts shall be enacted.

That no person shall be imprisoned for debt.

That the privilege of the writ of habeas corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in cases of rebellion, insurrection, or invasion the public safety may require it, in either of which events the same may be suspended by the President, or by the Governor, with the approval of the Philippine Commission, wherever during such period the necessity for such suspension shall exist.

That no ex post facto law or bill of attainder shall be enacted.

That no law granting a title of nobility shall be enacted, and no person holding any office of profit or trust in said Islands, shall without the consent of the Congress of the United States, accept any present, emolument, office, or title of any kind whatever from any king, queen, prince, or foreign State.

That excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted.

That the right to be secure against unreasonable searches and seizures shall not be violated.

That neither slavery, nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime whereof the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist in said Islands.

That no law shall be passed abridging the freedom of speech or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble and petition the Government for redress of grievances.

That no law shall be made respecting an establishment of religion or prohibiting the free exercise thereof, and that the free exercise and enjoyment of religious profession and worship, without discrimination or preference, shall forever be allowed.

That no money shall be paid out of the Treasury except in pursuance of an appropriation by law.

That the rule of taxation in said Islands shall be uniform.

That no private or local bill which may be enacted into law shall embrace more than one subject, and that subject shall be expressed in the title of the bill.

That no warrant shall issue but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched and the person or things to be seized.

That all money collected on any tax levied or assessed for a special purpose shall be treated as a special fund in the Treasury and paid out for such purpose only.

Section 16. Every person in Armenia shall enjoy the right to a useful and remunerative job, to earn enough to provide adequate food, clothing and recreation, to raise and sell his products at a return which will give him and his family a decent living, to trade in an atmosphere of freedom from unfair competition and domination by monopolies, to a decent home, to adequate medical care and the opportunity to achieve and enjoy good health, to adequate protection from the economic fears of old age, sickness, accident, and unemployment, and to a good education.

Article IV: Suffrage and Elections

Section 1. General elections shall be held annually on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in November. The President, Vice-President, and members of the Congress shall be chosen at general elections. Local elective officers shall be chosen at general elections or at such other times as shall be provided by law.

Section 2. All questions submitted to the people of the entire country shall be voted upon not later than 60 days following their submission.

Section 3. Suffrage may be exercised by citizens of Armenia not otherwise disqualified by law for reasons other than deprivation under Section 4 below, who are twenty-one years of age or over and are able to read and write, and who shall have resided in Armenia for one year and in the municipality wherein they propose to vote for at least six months preceding the election.

Section 4. The Legislature may pass laws to deprive persons of the right of suffrage who shall be convicted of such crimes as it may designate. Any person so deprived, when pardoned or otherwise restored by law to the right of suffrage, shall again enjoy that right.

Article V: Distribution of Powers of Governments

Section 1. The powers of the government shall be divided among three distinct branches, the legislative, executive, and judicial. No person or persons belonging to or constituting one branch shall exercise any of the powers properly belonging to either of the others, except as expressly provided in this Constitution.

Section 2. The Legislative power shall be vested in a Congress of Armenia, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives.

Section 3. The Executive power shall be vested in a President of Armenia, who shall be assisted in exercising that power by the Vice-President and the Cabinet Secretaries.

Section 4. The Judicial power shall be vested in one Supreme Court and in such inferior courts as may be established by law.

Article VI: The Legislative Department

Subarticle 1.

Section 1-1. The Congress of Armenia shall be the highest organ of state authority and the sole legislative organ of the State. The Senate and the House of Representatives shall have equal rights and an equal right to initiate legislation, except as expressly provided in this Constitution.

Section 1-2. No person shall be a member of the Senate who shall not have attained the age of thirty years, and have been a citizen and resident of Armenia for four years, and of the county for which he shall be elected one year, next before his election. No person shall be a member of the House of Representatives who shall not have attained the age of twenty-five years and have been a citizen and resident of Armenia for two years, and of the district for which he shall be elected one year, next before his election. No person shall be eligible for membership in the Congress unless he be entitled to the right of suffrage.

Section 1-3. The Congress shall convene in regular session twice every year, on the second Tuesday of January and on the second Tuesday of July, unless different dates are fixed by law. It may be called in special session by the President upon petition of a majority of all the members of each house, and may be called by the President whenever in his opinion the public interest shall require. No special session shall continue longer than thirty days and no regular session longer than one hundred days, exclusive of Sundays.

Subarticle 2.

Section 2-1. The Senate shall be composed of two senators for each County who shall be chosen at large by the qualified electors of that county, and of one senator each for the Turkish, Georgian, Greek and Kurdish minorities by the qualified electors who belong to those minorities, as may be provided by law.

Section 2-2. The term of office of Senators shall be eight years and shall begin on the third day of January next following their election. The first Senators elected under this Constitution shall, in the manner provided by law, be divided equally into two classes, the Senators of the first class, which shall comprise one senator for each county, as determined by lot, and the senators representing the Turkish and Georgian Minorities, to serve for a term of eight years; and those of the second class, which shall include the other senator for each county, and the senators representing Greek and Kurdish minorities, to serve for a term of four years.

Subarticle 3.

Section 3-1. The House of Representatives shall be composed of one representative for every 50,000, or fraction greater than 25,000, of the population. Representatives shall be apportioned among the several counties as nearly as may be according to the number of their respective inhabitants, but each county shall have at least one Member. Any county having more than one member shall be divided into districts, and each of them shall comprise, as far as practicable, an equal number of voters and contiguous and compact territory. Until such apportionment shall have been made, the House of Representatives shall consist of eighty-seven Members, who shall be elected by the qualified electors from the present Armenian Assembly districts.

Section 3-2. The Congress shall by law direct the method of enumeration. The first enumeration shall be made within three years after the first meeting of the Congress, and every subsequent enumeration shall be made ten years thereafter.

Section 3-3. The term of office of Representatives shall be four years and shall begin on the third day of January next following their election.

Subarticle 4.

Section 4-1. The Senate shall elect its President and two Vice-Presidents, and the House of Representatives its Speaker and two Vice-Speakers. Each house shall also choose its secretary, its sergeant-at-arms, and such other officers as may be required.

Section 4-2. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall each preside over the sittings and direct the proceedings of the corresponding House, and maintain order therein. The President of the Senate shall preside over joint sittings of Congress, and in his absence the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall preside.

Section 4-3. Each house shall be the judge of the elections, returns and qualifications of its own members, determine the rules of its proceedings, and punish its members for disorderly behavior. It may expel a member with the concurrence of two-thirds of all its members, save in cases of a member judged by the Credentials Commission to not have been validly elected. Any judgement on the elections, returns and qualifications of either House's members shall be made on the recommendation of the Credentials Commission of that House, and the expulsion of a member judged by the Credentials Commission to not have been validly elected shall be with the concurrence of a majority of members present.

Section 4-4. In case of vacancy in either House, a special election shall be called in the corresponding district, county, or minority community, in the manner prescribed by law, but the member thus elected shall serve only for the unexpired term.

Section 4-5. A majority of all the Members of each House shall constitute a quorum to do business, but a smaller number may adjourn from day to day, and may compel the attendance of absent Members, in such manner, and under such penalties, as each House may provide.

Section 4-6. The proceedings of each House shall be undertaken in either the Armenian or the English Language, but the senators representing the Minorities may conduct proceedings in their own languages. The Bills are printed and circulated before the day fixed upon for their discussion.

Section 4-7. Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, the Law, and of the Congressional rules of proceeding, each house shall make decision by a majority of the members present and voting. The votes therein shall be given by roll-call, by show of hands or by ballot.

Section 4-8. Each House shall keep a Journal of its proceedings, and from time to time publish the same, excepting such parts as may in its judgment require secrecy; and the yeas and nays on any question shall, at the request of the one-fifth of its Members present, be entered in the Journal.

Section 4-9. Neither House during the sessions of the Congress shall, without the consent of the other, adjourn for more than three days, nor to any other place than that in which the two Houses shall be sitting.

Section 4-10. Senators and Representatives shall receive annually, during the term for which they shall have been elected and while they shall hold their office, such compensation as shall, from time to time, be fixed by law and no other allowance or emolument, directly or indirectly, for any purpose whatever, exclusive only of traveling expenses to and from their places of residence when attending sessions of the Congress. No increase or decrease in said compensation shall take effect until after the expiration of the full term of the Representatives in the Congress approving such increase or decrease. The President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives, each by virtue of his office, shall receive an additional allowance, equal to one-third of his compensation as a member.

Section 4-11. Senators and Representatives shall, in all cases except treason and high misdemeanor, be privileged from arrest during their attendance at the sessions of the Congress, and in going to and returning from the same; and for any statement, speech or debate in either house or at any meeting of a legislative committee, they shall not be questioned in any other place.

Subarticle 5.

Section 5-1. No person holding any civil office or position, of profit, and no judge of any court shall be entitled to a seat in Congress. If any member of Congress shall accept any civil office or position, of profit, his seat shall thereupon become vacant.

Section 5-2. Congress may appoint any commission, committee or other body whose main purpose is to aid or assist it in performing its functions. Members of Congress may be appointed to serve on any such body.

Section 5-3. Neither Congress nor either house thereof shall elect or appoint any executive, administrative or judicial officer, except when otherwise specified in this Constitution.

Subarticle 6.

Section 6-1. Congress shall pass laws in three readings of each house, by Majority vote.

Section 6-2. Congress shall not pass any bill of attainder, ex post facto law, or law impairing the obligation of contracts, or depriving a party of any remedy for enforcing a contract which existed when the contract was made.

Section 6-3. To avoid improper influences which may result from intermixing in one and the same act such things as have no proper relation to each other, every law shall embrace but one object, and that shall be expressed in the title. This paragraph shall not invalidate any law adopting or enacting a compilation, consolidation, revision, or rearrangement of all or parts of the statutory law.

Section 6-4. No law shall be revived or amended by reference to its title only, but the act revived, or the section or sections amended, shall be inserted at length. No act shall be passed which shall provide that any existing law, or any part thereof, shall be made or deemed a part of the act or which shall enact that any existing law, or any part thereof, shall be applicable, except by inserting it in such act.

Section 6-5. The laws of the Republic shall begin in the following style: "Be it enacted by the Congress of the Republic of Armenia as follows:"

Section 6-6. No general law shall embrace any provision of a private, special or local character.

Section 6-7. No private, special or local law shall be passed unless public notice of the intention to apply therefor, and of the general object thereof, shall have been previously given. Such notice shall be given at such time and in such manner and shall be so evidenced and the evidence thereof shall be so preserved as may be provided by law.

Section 6-7. Congress shall not pass any private, special or local laws:

(1) Authorizing the sale of any lands belonging in whole or in part to a minor or minors or other persons who may at the time be under any legal disability to act for themselves.

(2) Changing the law of descent.

(3) Providing for change of venue in civil or criminal causes.

(4) Selecting, drawing, summoning or empaneling grand or petit jurors.

(5) Creating, increasing or decreasing the emoluments, term or tenure rights of any public officers or employees.

(6) Relating to taxation or exemption therefrom.

(7) Providing for the management and control of free public schools.

(8) Granting to any corporation, association or individual any exclusive privilege, immunity or franchise whatever.

(9) Granting to any corporation, association or individual the right to lay down railroad tracks.

(10) Laying out, opening, altering, constructing, maintaining and repairing roads or highways.

(11) Vacating any road, town plot, street, alley or public grounds.

(12) Appointing local officers or commissions to regulate municipal affairs.

(13) Regulating the internal affairs of municipalities formed for local government and counties, except as otherwise in this Constitution provided.

Congress shall pass general laws providing for the cases enumerated in this section, and for all other cases which, in its judgment, may be provided for by general laws.

Section 6-8. Congress shall pass no special act conferring corporate powers, but shall pass general laws under which corporations may be organized and corporate powers of every nature obtained, subject, nevertheless, to repeal or alteration at the will of the Legislature.

Article VII: The Executive Department

Subarticle 1.

Section 1-1. The President shall hold his office during a term of four years and together with the Vice-President chosen for the same term, shall be elected by direct vote of the people. A person shall not seek election to both offices simultaneously.

Section 1-2. The candidate receiving the greatest number of votes shall be elected; but if two or more shall be equal and greatest in votes, one candidate shall be chosen President or Vice-President, as the case may be, by a majority vote of the Members of the Congress in joint session, assembled for the purpose within 30 days. Contested elections for the offices of President and Vice-President shall be determined in such manner as may be provided by law.

Section 1-3. No person may be President or Vice-President who shall not have attained the age of thirty-five years, and have been a citizen of Armenia for fifteen years, and a resident thereof for six years, next before his election. No person shall be eligible for the offices of President or Vice-President unless he be entitled to the right of suffrage.

Section 1-4. No person who has been elected President or Vice-President for two successive terms, including an unexpired term, shall again be eligible for that office until the third Tuesday in January of the fourth year following the expiration of the second successive term.

Section 1-5. The term of office of the President and Vice-President shall begin at noon of the third Tuesday in January next following their election, and ending at noon of the third Tuesday in January four years thereafter. If a President or a Vice-President is chosen to fill a vacancy, his term of office shall begin upon his election or appointment, as the case may be.

Section 1-6. Before he enters on the execution of his office, the President shall take and subscribe publicly, in the presence of members of both Houses of the Congress, of Judges of the Supreme Court, and other public personages, the following oath or affirmation:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully and conscientiously:–

fulfill my duties as President of the Republic of Armenia, in accordance with the Constitution and the law;

preserve, protect, defend and maintain its Constitution;

uphold and execute its just laws;

do justice to every man;

consecrate myself to the service and welfare of the Armenian Nation and people;

and dedicate my abilities to all the things which I have here before promised.

So help me God. (In case of affirmation, last sentence will be omitted)

Subarticle 2.

Section 2-1. In the event of the removal of the President from office, or his death or resignation, his office shall devolve on the Vice-President.

Section 2-2. In the event of the inability of the President to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the said powers and duties shall devolve on the Vice-President, until the inability be removed.

Section 2-3. In the event of the removal of the Vice-President from office, or his death, resignation, or inability to discharge the powers and duties of the said office, the same shall devolve, in like manner as in the applicable case for the President, to a Cabinet Secretary designated by the President for the purpose.

Section 2-4. If no Cabinet Secretary is designated under the previous section, or if there are multiple Cabinet Secretaries so designated, the Cabinet Secretaries shall proceed to designate for the purpose, by election, one of themselves, or of the designated Secretaries, as the case may be, within seven days of the event. In the meantime, the powers and duties of the office of Vice-President shall devolve on the oldest among them.

Section 2-5. The Congress shall by law provide for the case of removal, death, resignation, or inability, both of the President and Vice-President, declaring what officer shall then act as President, and such officer shall act accordingly, until the disability be removed, or a President shall be elected.

Section 2-6. In the event of simultaneous vacancies in the offices both of the President and Vice-President, a new President and Vice-President shall be elected not later than 60 days following the vacancy.

Section 2-7. If, at the time fixed for the beginning of the term of the President, the President-elect shall have died, the Vice-President-elect shall become President. If a President shall not have been chosen before the time fixed for the beginning of his term or if the President shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice-President shall act as President until a President shall have qualified, and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President-elect nor a Vice-President-elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice-President shall have qualified.

Subarticle 3.

Section 3-1. The President shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed. To this end he shall have power, by appropriate action or proceeding in the courts brought in the name of the State, to enforce compliance with any constitutional or legislative mandate, or to restrain violation of any constitutional or legislative power or duty, by any officer, department or agency of the State; but this power shall not be construed to authorize any action or proceeding against the Congress.

Section 3-2.

(1) The President shall communicate to the Congress, by message at the opening of each regular session and at such other times as he may deem necessary, the state of the Nation, and shall in like manner recommend such measures as he may deem desirable.

(2) He may convene the Congress, or either of its Houses alone, whenever in his opinion the public interest shall require.

(3) He shall be the Commander-in-Chief of all the military and naval forces of the State.

(4) He shall grant commissions to all officers elected or appointed pursuant to this Constitution.

(5) He shall nominate and appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, all officers for whose election or appointment provision is not otherwise made by this Constitution or by law.

(6) He may call referenda whenever in his opinion the public interest shall require.

(7) He may annul orders of the Cabinet in case they do not conform to the law.

(8) He shall award decorations and confer titles of honor.

(9) He shall accreddit ambassadors and ministers to foreign states and recieve foreign ambassadors and ministers accredited to Armenia.

(10) He shall perform ceremonial functions.

(11) He may declare war during a recess of the Congress, in the event of armed attack on the territory of the Republic, or whenever necessary to fulfill international treaty obligations concerning mutual defense against aggression. An ad interim declaration of war so made shall expire at the end of the next regular session of the Senate, unless the Senate shall sooner confirm the declaration of war.

(12) He may make international treaties with the concurrence of two-thirds of the Senate.

(13) He may order general or partial mobilization, or declare a state of emergency or martial law, whenever in his opinion the public interest shall require.

Section 3-3. The President may fill any vacancy occurring in any office during a recess of the Congress, appointment to which may be made by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate, or by the Congress in joint meeting. An ad interim appointment so made shall expire at the end of the next regular session of the Senate, unless a successor shall be sooner appointed and qualify; and after the end of the session no ad interim appointment to the same office shall be made unless the Congress shall have submitted to the Senate a nomination to the office during the session and the Senate shall have adjourned without confirming or rejecting it. No person nominated for any office shall be eligible for an ad interim appointment to such office if the nomination shall have failed of confirmation by the Senate.

Subarticle 4.

Section 4-1. Every bill which shall have passed both houses shall be presented to the President. If he approves he shall sign it, but if not he shall return it, with his objections, to the house in which it shall have originated, which shall enter the objections at large on its journal and proceed to reconsider it.

Section 4-2. If upon reconsideration, on or after the third day following the return of the bill, two-thirds of all the members of the house of origin shall agree to pass the bill, it shall be sent, together with the objections of the President, to the other house, by which it shall be reconsidered and if approved by two-thirds of all the members of that house, it shall become a law; and in all such cases the votes of each house shall be determined by yeas and nays, and the names of the persons voting for and against the bill shall be entered on the journal of each house respectively.

Section 4-3. If a bill shall not be returned by the President within ten days, Sundays excepted, after it shall have been presented to him, the same shall become a law on the tenth day.

Section 4-4. If any bill presented to the President shall contain one or more items of appropriation of money, he may object in whole or in part to any such item or items while approving the other portions of the bill. In such case he shall append to the bill, at the time of signing it, a statement of each item or part thereof to which he objects, and each item or part so objected to shall not take effect. A copy of such statement shall be transmitted by him to the house in which the bill originated, and each item or part thereof objected to shall be separately reconsidered.

Section 4-5. If upon reconsideration, on or after the third day following said transmittal, one or more of such items or parts thereof be approved by two-thirds of all the members of each house, the same shall become a part of the law, notwithstanding the objections of the President.

Section 4-6. All the provisions of this Subarticle in relation to bills not approved by the Governor shall apply to cases in which he shall withhold his approval from any item or items or parts thereof contained in a bill appropriating money.

Article VIII: The Judicial Department

Subarticle 1.

Section 1-1. The Supreme Court shall consist of a Chief Justice and six Associate Justices. Five members of the court shall constitute a quorum. When necessary, the Chief Justice shall assign the Judge or Judges of the Superior Court, senior in service, as provided by rules of the Supreme Court, to serve temporarily in the Supreme Court. In case the Chief Justice is absent or unable to serve, a presiding Justice designated in accordance with rules of the Supreme Court shall serve temporarily in his stead.

Section 1-2. The Supreme Court shall exercise appellate jurisdiction in the last resort in all causes provided in this Constitution.

Section 1-3. The Supreme Court shall make rules governing the administration of all courts in the State and, subject to the law, the practice and procedure in all such courts. The Supreme Court shall have jurisdiction over the admission to the practice of law and the discipline of persons admitted.

Subarticle 2.

Section 2-1. The Superior Court shall consist of such number of Judges as may be authorized by law, but not less than twenty-four, each of whom shall exercise the powers of the court subject to rules of the Supreme Court.

Section 2-2. The Superior Court shall have original general jurisdiction throughout the State in all causes.

Section 2-3. The Superior Court shall be divided into an Appellate Division, a Cassation Division and an Administration Division. Each division shall have such Parts, consist of such number of Judges, and hear such causes, as may be provided by rules of the Supreme Court.

Section 2-4. Subject to rules of the Supreme Court, the Cassation Division and the Administration Division shall each exercise powers and functions in both law and equity when the ends of justice so require, and legal and equitable relief shall be granted in any cause so that all matters in controversy between the parties may be completely determined.

Section 2-5. The interpretation of civil and penal laws shall vest with the Cassation Division; of administrative laws, with the Administration Division; and of the Constitution, with the supreme court.

Subarticle 3.

Section 3-1. There shall be a County Court in each county, which shall such jurisdiction consistent with this Constitution as may be conferred by law.

Section 3-2. There shall be a Judge of each County Court and such additional Judges as shall be provided by law.

Section 3-3. Each Judge of the County Court may exercise the jurisdiction of the County Court.

Section 3-4. The jurisdiction, powers and functions of the County Courts and of the Judges of the County Courts may be altered by law as the public good may require.

Section 3-5. The County Courts, in civil causes including probate causes, within their jurisdiction, and subject to law, may grant legal and equitable relief so that all matters in controversy between the parties may be completely determined.

Subarticle 4.

Section 4-1. Appeals may be taken to the Supreme Court:

(a) In causes determined by the Appellate Division of the Superior Court involving a question arising under the Constitution;

(b) In causes where there is a dissent in the Appellate Division of the Superior Court;

(c) In capital causes;

(d) On certification by the Supreme Court to the Superior Court and, where provided by rules of the Supreme Court, to the County Courts and the inferior courts; and

(e) In such causes as may be provided by law.

Section 4-2. Appeals may be taken to the Appellate Division of the Superior Court from the Cassation and Administration Divisions of the Superior Court, the County Courts and in such other causes as may be provided by law.

Section 4-3. The Supreme Court and the Appellate Division of the Superior Court may exercise such original jurisdiction as may be necessary to the complete determination of any cause on review.

Section 4-4. Prerogative writs are superseded and, in lieu thereof, review, hearing and relief shall be afforded in the Superior Court, on terms and in the manner provided by rules of the Supreme Court, as of right, except in criminal causes where such review shall be discretionary.

Subarticle 5.

Section 5-1. The President shall nominate and appoint, with the advice and consent of the Senate, the Chief Justice and Associate Justices of the Supreme Court, the Judges of the Superior Court, Judges of the County Courts and the judges of the inferior courts with jurisdiction extending to more than one municipality. The President shall make nominations to such an office after consultation with the Secretary of Justice, and no nomination to such an office shall be sent to the Senate for confirmation until after seven days' public notice by the President.

Section 5-2. The Justices of the Supreme Court and the Judges of the Superior Court and Judges of the County Courts shall each prior to his appointment have been admitted to the practice of the law in this State for at least ten years.

Section 5-3. The Justices of the Supreme Court and the Judges of the Superior Court shall hold their offices during good behavior. Such Justices and Judges shall be retired upon attaining the age of seventy years. Provisions for the pensioning of the Justices of the Supreme Court and the Judges of the Superior Court shall be made by law.

Section 5-4. The Justices of the Supreme Court and the Judges of the Superior Court and the Judges of the County Courts shall be subject to impeachment, and any judicial officer impeached shall not exercise his office until acquitted. The Judges of the Superior Court and the Judges of the County Courts shall also be subject to removal from office by the Supreme Court for such causes and in such manner as shall be provided by law.

Section 5-5. Whenever the Supreme Court shall certify to the Governor that it appears that any Justice of the Supreme Court, Judge of the Superior Court or Judge of the County Court is so incapacitated as substantially to prevent him from performing his judicial duties, the Governor shall appoint a commission of three persons to inquire into the circumstances; and, on their recommendation, the Governor may retire the Justice or Judge from office, on pension as may be provided by law.

6. The Justices of the Supreme Court and the Judges of the Superior Court shall receive for their services such salaries as may be provided by law, which shall not be diminished during the term of their appointment. They shall not, while in office, engage in the practice of law or other gainful pursuit.

7. The Justices of the Supreme Court, the Judges of the Superior Court and the Judges of the County Courts shall hold no other office or position, of profit, under this State or the United States. Any such Justice or Judge who shall become a candidate for an elective public office shall thereby forfeit his judicial office.

Subarticle 5.

Section 1-1. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall be the administrative head of all the courts in the State. He shall appoint an Administrative Director to serve at his pleasure.

2. The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court shall assign Judges of the Superior Court to the Divisions and Parts of the Superior Court, and may from time to time transfer Judges from one assignment to another, as need appears. Assignments to the Appellate Division shall be for terms fixed by rules of the Supreme Court.

3. The Clerk of the Supreme Court and the Clerk of the Superior Court shall be appointed by the Supreme Court for such terms and at such com-pensation as shall be provided by law.

1977 Amendments

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Armenia, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Articles be proposed to the Electorate as a Revision to the Constitution of Armenia, via a referendum for that purpose, to be held on the 31st day of January, 1978, all of which Articles, when ratified by a majority of those voting in the said referendum, a single vote being applicable to all articles, to be valid to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz:

1993 Amendments

RESOLVED by the Senate and House of Representatives of the Republic of Armenia, in Congress assembled, two thirds of both Houses concurring, that the following Article be proposed to the Electorate as an Amendment to the Constitution of Armenia, via a referendum for that purpose, to be held on the 20th day of July, 1993, to be valid, when ratified by a majority of those voting in the said referendum, to all intents and purposes, as part of the said Constitution; viz:

In Article 1, Section 2-1, substitute "Turkish, Georgian, Greek and Kurdish minorities" for "Turkish, Azerbaijani, Georgian, Greek, Russian and Kurdish minorities"