
The current Constitution of Ireland came into effect on 29 December 1937, replacing the Constitution of the Irish Free State, which had been in force since 6 December 1922. The 1937 Constitution was approved in a national plebiscite on 1 July 1937, with 56.5% of voters in the then Irish Free State supporting it.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date the Irish Constitution came into effect | 29 December 1937 |
| Date the Irish Constitution was approved | 1 July 1937 |
| Percentage of voters who supported the Irish Constitution | 56.5% |
| Date the Constitution of the Irish Free State came into force | 6 December 1922 |
| Date the Irish Free State Constitution Act was passed | 5 December 1922 |
| Date the original text of the 1922 Constitution was passed | 25 October 1922 |
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What You'll Learn
- The current Constitution of Ireland came into effect on 29 December 1937
- The Constitution replaced the Constitution of the Irish Free State
- The Irish Free State Constitution Act 1922 was passed by the British government on 5 December 1922
- The 1922 Constitution was amended by Article 50
- The Constitution of Ireland is the fundamental law of Ireland

The current Constitution of Ireland came into effect on 29 December 1937
The 1937 Constitution was approved in a national plebiscite on 1 July 1937, with the support of 56.5% of voters in the then Irish Free State. The Constitution was also closely associated with Éamon de Valera, the President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State at the time of its approval. De Valera assumed the position of Taoiseach on its adoption.
The 1937 Constitution is the second constitution of the Irish state since independence, and it is the longest continually operating republican constitution within the European Union. It may be amended solely by a national referendum.
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The Constitution replaced the Constitution of the Irish Free State
The current Constitution of Ireland came into effect on 29 December 1937, replacing the Constitution of the Irish Free State. The Constitution of the Irish Free State had been in effect since 6 December 1922, marking the establishment of a separate dominion within the British Commonwealth of Nations. The 1922 Constitution was closely associated with Éamon de Valera, the President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State at the time of its approval. The 1937 Constitution replaced the 1922 Constitution, which had come into force on 25 October 1922, and was passed by the Third Dáil sitting as a Constituent Assembly. The 1937 Constitution was approved in a national plebiscite on 1 July 1937, with the support of 56.5% of voters in the then Irish Free State. The Constitution of Ireland is the fundamental law of the country and asserts the national sovereignty of the Irish people. It guarantees certain fundamental rights, along with a popularly elected non-executive president, a bicameral parliament, a separation of powers and judicial review. It is the second constitution of the Irish state since independence and is the longest continually operating republican constitution within the European Union.
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The Irish Free State Constitution Act 1922 was passed by the British government on 5 December 1922
The Act was passed to give effect to the Constitution of the Irish Free State, which had been adopted by Act of Dáil Éireann sitting as a constituent assembly on 25 October 1922. The Irish Free State Constitution Act 1922 came into effect upon receiving royal assent on 5 December 1922, and the Constitution itself came into effect upon the issue of a Royal Proclamation on 6 December 1922.
The Constitution of the Irish Free State was the first constitution of the Irish state since independence. It marked the establishment of a separate dominion within the British Commonwealth of Nations, with all powers of government and all authority derived from the people of Ireland. The Constitution was replaced by the modern Constitution of Ireland on 29 December 1937, following a statewide plebiscite held on 1 July 1937.
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The 1922 Constitution was amended by Article 50
Article 50 governed amendments to the 1922 Constitution. At the time the 1937 Constitution was adopted, Article 50 provided that constitutional amendments could be enacted by the Oireachtas (parliament) under the same procedure used for the adoption of ordinary laws. The 1937 Constitution may be amended solely by a national referendum.
The 1922 Constitution was the first constitution of the Irish state since independence. It was replaced by the second constitution of the Irish state since independence, the Constitution of Ireland. The 1937 Constitution is the fundamental law of Ireland. It asserts the national sovereignty of the Irish people and guarantees certain fundamental rights, along with a popularly elected non-executive president, a bicameral parliament, a separation of powers and judicial review.
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The Constitution of Ireland is the fundamental law of Ireland
The Constitution of Ireland asserts the national sovereignty of the Irish people and guarantees certain fundamental rights. It provides for a popularly elected non-executive president, a bicameral parliament, a separation of powers and judicial review. It is the second constitution of the Irish state since independence. It is also the longest continually operating republican constitution within the European Union.
The Constitution may only be amended by a national referendum. Under the 1922 Constitution, amendments were governed by Article 50, which provided that constitutional amendments could be enacted by the Oireachtas (parliament) under the same procedure used for the adoption of ordinary laws. However, when the 1937 Constitution was adopted, this article was no longer in effect.
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Frequently asked questions
The Irish Constitution was ratified on 29 December 1937.
The Irish Constitution replaced the Constitution of the Irish Free State.
The Constitution of the Irish Free State came into force on 6 December 1922.
The plebiscite on the Irish Constitution was approved by 56.5% of voters.
The President of the Executive Council of the Irish Free State when the Irish Constitution was ratified was Éamon de Valera.

























