Jonah Patel
Nepal's first constitution, the 'Government of Nepal Act, 1948', came into effect on April 1, 1948, and consisted of 68 articles. The constitution vested power in the Prime Minister, who could select bicameral legislature members and alter their decisions. An interim constitution was established after the 1948 Act, which restored power to the king and was promulgated by King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah. Nepal has had a long struggle for a constitution, with seven constitutions in total. The country has shifted between a constitutional monarchy and a republic, with the current constitution, established in 2015, declaring Nepal a federal democratic republic.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The first constitution of Nepal
Nepal's first constitution, the 'Government of Nepal Act, 1948', came into effect on 1 April 1948. The constitution had 68 articles and vested power solely in the hands of the Prime Minister. They could select bicameral legislature members and alter their decisions. An interim constitution was established after the 1948 Act, which restored power to the king. This was called the 'Interim Government of Nepal Act', and was promulgated by King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah.
In 1959, King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah held parliamentary elections and established another constitution just before the polls. This constitution was promulgated on 16 December 1962 by King Mahendra. It consisted of 20 parts, 97 articles, and 6 schedules. The king had the authority to modify or suspend the constitution in an emergency.
In 1990, the first Jana Andolan, or Popular Revolt, brought multi-party democracy to Nepal. The 'Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, 1990' lifted the ban on political parties and established a democratic representative system. While this substantially increased the democratic character of the state, critics argue that it did not adequately represent all sectors of society.
Nepal's current constitution, the 'Constitution of Nepal 2015' (or 'Constitution of Nepal 2072' in Nepali), came into effect on 20 September 2015. It replaced the Interim Constitution of 2007, which had announced the abolition of the monarchy. The 2015 Constitution was drafted by the Second Constituent Assembly after the first assembly failed to produce a constitution. It was endorsed by 90% of legislators and has 308 articles.
The Constitution: Forerunner to Modern Government?
You may want to see also
'Government of Nepal Act, 1948'
Nepal's first constitution, the Government of Nepal Act, 1948, came into effect on 1 April 1948. The constitution had 68 articles and vested power solely in the hands of the Prime Minister, who could select bicameral legislature members and alter their decisions. The 1948 document introduced limited democratic elements, but the experiment was unsuccessful due to the Rana rulers' reluctance to cede power. It was declared on 26 January 1948 by Prime Minister Padma Shumsher, who chaired the constitution's drafting with the help of three Indian scholars: Prakash Gupta, Raghunath Singh, and Ram Ugra Singh.
Following the Government of Nepal Act, an interim constitution was established, known as the Interim Government of Nepal Act, which restored power to the king. This constitution was promulgated by King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah. In 1959, King Mahendra Bir Bikram Shah conducted parliamentary elections and established another constitution just before the polls. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, 1959, established a bicameral parliament, but the king retained significant powers, including the prerogative to appoint half of the Senate members and suspend parliament under certain circumstances.
The constitution of 1962, promulgated by King Mahendra, further strengthened the monarch's authority. It consisted of 20 parts, 97 articles, and 6 schedules. The king could modify or suspend the constitution in an emergency. In 1990, the first Jana Andolan, or Popular Revolt, brought multi-party democracy to Nepal. The Constitution of the Kingdom of Nepal, 1990, lifted the ban on political parties and established a democratic representative system while curtailing the king's authority.
Nepal's struggle for a stable constitution has spanned decades, with the country experiencing six different constitutions between 1948 and 2007. The Interim Constitution of 2007 abolished the monarchy, but it was not until 2015 that a new constitution was endorsed by the Constituent Assembly. The Constitution of Nepal 2015, which came into effect on 20 September of that year, is the current governing constitution of Nepal. It declares Nepal a federal democratic republic with executive rights vested in the Council of Ministers, while the President serves as the ceremonial head of state.
The Characteristics of First World Countries
You may want to see also
The Interim Constitution
Nepal's first written constitution, the 'Government of Nepal Act, 1948', came into effect on April 1, 1948. This was followed by an interim constitution, called the 'Interim Government of Nepal Act', which restored power to the king.
This interim constitution was established in 1950 after the Nepalese King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah took refuge in India and an armed revolution began. A coalition consisting of the Ranas and the Nepali Congress Party reinstated the constitutional monarchy and established an Interim Constitution. This constitution returned traditional powers to the king, established a judicial branch, and created a Bill of Rights. However, instead of holding elections, King Tribhuvan appointed new ministries when no consensus could be reached.
Another interim constitution was adopted on January 15, 2007, which announced the abolition of the monarchy. It was implemented on May 27, 2008, after the first meeting of the Constituent Assembly. The Constituent Assembly was later dissolved in 2012 after it failed to finish drafting a new constitution. The Second Nepalese Constituent Assembly was then elected in 2013 and tasked with drafting a new constitution within a year. However, due to differences on key issues, the constitution was not finalized in time.
The current governing Constitution of Nepal came into effect on September 20, 2015, replacing the 2007 Interim Constitution. It was drafted by the Second Constituent Assembly and endorsed by 90% of legislators. It is divided into 35 parts, 308 Articles, and 9 Schedules.
France's First Constitution: A September to Remember
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The Constitution of Nepal 2015
Nepal's first constitution, the 'Government of Nepal Act, 1948', came into effect on 1 April 1948. Since then, the country has had seven constitutions in total. The Constitution of Nepal 2015 (Nepali: नेपालको संविधान २०७२) is the country's current governing constitution. It came into effect on 20 September 2015, replacing the Interim Constitution of 2007.
The First Constitutional Crisis: A Historical Overview
You may want to see also
The Federal Democratic Republic
Nepal's first written constitution, the 'Government of Nepal Act, 1948', came into effect on April 1, 1948. This constitution had 68 articles and vested sole power in the hands of the Prime Minister, including the ability to select bicameral legislature members and alter their decisions. However, this was followed by an interim constitution that restored power to the king.
Nepal has had a long and tumultuous journey towards establishing a stable constitution, with several iterations and revisions along the way. The country's struggle for a lasting constitution has spanned over seven decades and involved various political and social upheavals.
The current governing constitution of Nepal, the 'Constitution of Nepal 2015' (in Nepali: नेपालको संविधान २०७२), came into effect on September 20, 2015, replacing the Interim Constitution of 2007. This constitution was drafted by the Second Constituent Assembly and endorsed by a significant majority of legislators. It is divided into 35 parts, 308 articles, and 9 schedules. The constitution outlines Nepal as a federal democratic republican nation, with executive rights belonging to the Council of Ministers and a ceremonial head of state role assigned to the President.
The First Amendment: Understanding Our Constitutional Right
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The first written constitution of Nepal was titled the 'Government of Nepal Act, 1948' and came into effect on April 1, 1948. It consisted of 68 articles and gave the Prime Minister the sole power to select bicameral legislature members and alter their decisions.
Conservative members of the Rana family viewed the constitution as a dangerous precedent and forced the Prime Minister to resign before it could take effect.
An interim constitution was established, which returned power to the king. This was called the 'Interim Government of Nepal Act' and was promulgated by King Tribhuvan Bir Bikram Shah.
