Malcolm Rivera
The Constitution of Monaco, first adopted in 1911 and heavily revised in 1962, is the shortest written constitution in the world. It has 3,814 words and outlines three branches of government, including several administrative offices and councils, who share advisory and legislative power with the prince.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Country | Monaco |
| Word Count | 3,814 |
| Chapters | 12 |
| Articles | 96 |
| First Adopted | 1911 |
| Revised | 17 December 1962 |
| Language | French |
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What You'll Learn
The constitution of Monaco is the shortest in the world
The prince holds the highest executive powers, while the Minister of State is the head of the government. The line of succession to the Monegasque throne is also clearly outlined in the constitution. The prince shares powers with the unicameral parliament, known as the National Council. The National Council is independent of the prince, but any proposed laws require the signature of the prince. According to the 1962 constitution, the prince also holds judicial powers, which can be delegated to the courts.
The Constitution of Monaco is written in French, with an official English translation. However, in cases of discrepancy between the two versions, the French text takes precedence. The constitution cannot be suspended, but it can be reviewed in full or in part. To initiate a review, there must be a joint agreement between the prince and the National Council. Either party can initiate the process, but for the National Council to do so, a two-thirds majority vote of its members is required.
The length of a country's constitution can vary significantly. While Monaco's constitution is the shortest, the constitution of Alabama is considered the longest, with an estimated 300,000 words. The average time taken to draft a constitution is around 16 months, but there have been cases where the process was much shorter or longer. For example, Japan's 1946 Constitution was drafted in just one week, while Myanmar's 2008 Constitution was secretly drafted over 17 years.
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It has 3,814 words
The Constitution of Monaco is the shortest written constitution in the world, with 3,814 words. It is divided into 12 chapters, which are further divided into 96 articles. The constitution outlines the arms of government, administrative offices, and councils that share legislative and advisory powers with the prince, who holds the highest executive powers. The National Council is independent of the prince but requires his signature on any proposed laws. The constitution also outlines the line of succession to the Monegasque throne and states that the prince holds judicial powers, which can be delegated to the courts.
The Constitution of Monaco was first adopted in 1911 and extensively revised in 1962 by Prince Rainier III. It is the fundamental law of the country and can be reviewed in full or in part, with the agreement of both the prince and the National Council. The process of initiating a review can be started by either party. However, for the National Council to initiate the process, a two-thirds majority of the members elected to the assembly must support the proceeding.
In comparison to other constitutions, Monaco's is very concise. For example, the U.S. Constitution, which is the oldest written national constitution still in use, has 7,762 words. The Indian Constitution, the longest in the world, has approximately 145,000 to 146,385 words. Interestingly, the state of Alabama in the U.S. has a constitution with an estimated 300,000 words, making it even longer than India's.
The length of a constitution can vary greatly, and the number of words is often indicative of the level of detail included. While some constitutions aim for brevity, others strive for comprehensiveness, incorporating various provisions and addressing specific issues. The process of drafting a constitution also varies, with some taking extreme approaches, such as Japan's 1946 Constitution, which was drafted in just one week, and Myanmar's 2008 Constitution, which was secretly developed over 17 years.
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It was first adopted in 1911
The Constitution of Monaco, the world's shortest written constitution, was first adopted in 1911. It was granted by Prince Albert I. The constitution was later extensively revised by Prince Rainier III on 17 December 1962. The document has approximately 3,800 words, compared to the 145,000-word Indian constitution, which is the longest in the world.
The Monegasque constitution outlines the arms of the government, administrative offices, and councils that share legislative and advisory powers with the prince. The document also highlights the line of succession to the Monegasque throne. While the prince holds the highest executive powers, the Minister of State is the head of government. The constitution also establishes that the prince shares powers with the unicameral parliament, or National Council.
The National Council is independent of the prince, but any of its proposed laws require the signature of the prince. The 1962 constitution also states that judicial powers are vested in the prince, who can delegate judicial procedures to the courts. Justice is often dispensed in the name of the prince.
The Constitution of Monaco is written in French, but it has been translated into English. However, in the case of any differences between the two versions, the French text takes precedence. The document is divided into 12 chapters, which are further divided into 96 articles.
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It was revised in 1962
The Constitution of Monaco is the shortest written constitution in the world, with approximately 3,800 words. First adopted in 1911, the constitution was extensively revised by Prince Rainier III on 17 December 1962. The 1962 revision is therefore the version that is currently in force.
The 1962 constitution outlines the arms of government, administrative offices, and councils that share legislative and advisory powers with the prince. It also highlights the public power of the principality and deals with the succession to the Monegasque throne. The constitution establishes that the prince holds the highest executive powers, while the Minister of State is the head of government.
The 1962 constitution also addresses judicial powers, vesting them in the prince, who can delegate judicial procedures to the courts. Justice is often dispensed in the name of the prince. The constitution further outlines the relationship between the prince and the unicameral parliament, known as the National Council. While the National Council is independent of the prince, any of its proposed laws require the signature of the prince.
The Constitution of Monaco is written in French and translated into English. However, in the event of any differences between the two versions, the French text takes precedence. The constitution is divided into 12 chapters, which are further subdivided into 96 articles.
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It is divided into 12 chapters
The Constitution of Monaco is the shortest written constitution in the world, with approximately 3,800 words. It is divided into 12 chapters, which are further divided into 96 articles. The first chapter of the constitution highlights the nature of the principality and public power, while the second chapter deals with the succession to the Monegasque throne. The constitution outlines the arms of the government, administrative offices, and councils that share legislative and advisory powers with the prince. The prince holds the highest executive powers, while the Minister of State is the head of government.
The Constitution of Monaco was first adopted in 1911 and extensively revised by Prince Rainier III on December 17, 1962. It is the fundamental law of the country and cannot be suspended. However, it can be reviewed in full or in part with a joint agreement between the prince and the unicameral National Council. The National Council is independent of the prince but requires his signature on any proposed laws. The constitution also vests judicial powers in the prince, who can delegate judicial procedures to the courts.
As the world's second-smallest country by area, Monaco's constitution is a concise and fundamental document outlining the country's governing principles. Each chapter covers specific aspects of the country's governance, from the nature of the principality to the distribution of powers. The 12-chapter structure allows for a clear and organised framework, ensuring that all critical areas of the country's functioning are addressed.
The division of the constitution into 12 chapters provides a logical and systematic approach to the country's laws and regulations. Each chapter likely focuses on distinct topics, such as the organisation of government, fundamental rights and freedoms, the role of the judiciary, and the relationship between different branches of government. This structured format enhances the clarity and comprehensiveness of the constitution, ensuring that Monaco's legal and governing principles are effectively outlined within its concise word count.
The 12-chapter format also facilitates ease of reference and interpretation. By dividing the constitution into manageable sections, it becomes more accessible to citizens, legal professionals, and policymakers. Each chapter likely builds upon and complements the others, creating a cohesive framework that guides Monaco's legal system and governance. The division into chapters and articles allows for efficient amendments and updates, as specific sections can be reviewed and revised independently when necessary.
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Frequently asked questions
The shortest written constitution in the world is that of Monaco, with 3,814 words or 3,800 words depending on the source.
The length of the Monaco Constitution is significantly shorter than that of India, which has the longest written constitution in the world with 145,000 or 146,385 words.
The Monaco Constitution was first adopted in 1911 and revised in 1962. It consists of 12 chapters and 96 articles, outlining the arms of government, administrative offices, and councils that share legislative and advisory powers with the prince.
Yes, the Monaco Constitution can be reviewed in full or in part with a joint agreement between the prince and the unicameral National Council. However, it cannot be suspended.
While not a country, Alabama has been noted for having an extremely long constitution with 300,000 words, while Texas has the second-longest with 86,936 words. On the other hand, Japan's constitution, written in 1946, is considered very concise and is the oldest unamended constitution.
