How many Constitutions have there been in the Dominican Republic

[aross]

We have had the Thread about how many Military Dictators there have been in the DR, so according to certain sources, how many Constitutions have there been in the history of the Dominican Republic?

[NotLurking]

Every time the constitution is amended the amended version is promulgated as a NEW constitution.

The first Constitution of the Dominican Republic was promulgated in 1844, immediately after the nation achieved independence from Haiti. By 1966 the Dominican Republic had adopted thirty five constitutional amendments. The 1966 Constitution, enacted at the conclusion of the civil war of April 1965, provided the necessary legal basis to ensure democratic stabilization of the country.

In August 14, 1994, the 1966 Constitution of the Dominican Republic was modified. Among the most important amendments: a) it established the Consejo Nacional de la Magistratura[17], which designated the judges of the Supreme Court of Justice ; b) provided for the administrative and financial autonomy of the Legislative and Judicial Powers; and c) expanded the competence of the Supreme Court of Justice to hear matters regarding the constitutionality of the law, to include not only laws and resolutions emanated from Congress but also decrees and regulations from the Executive Power and other governmental offices.[18]

The Supreme Court of Justice was given constitutional authority to designate the judges at all levels of the Judiciary, and authorized to exert disciplinary authority over all its members, putting an end to Executive and Legislative control over judges and personnel of the judiciary.

Eight years later, in 2002, the 1994 Constitution was again amended to provide mainly for the presidential re-election (Article 49). Articles 89 and 90 were enacted which addressed electoral matters.

Source GlobaLex - Guide to Legal Research in the Dominican Republic

NotLurking

[A.Hidalgo]

Excellent link.

[aross]

Originally Posted by A.Hidalgo

Excellent link.

I agree, great link.

Here is my source and this article says 32. So what does it matter if it is a couple of Constitution off when you hold the World Record anyway.

Latin Business Chronicle

[A.Hidalgo]

In this case I totally agree with what the article says....."what matters is quality not quantity". Not a record to be proud of. It seems every time a new party take over a new constitution is written. Not the way to run a country.

[MikeFisher]

agree Hidalgo.
the newly elected governments should govern by the rules written in the constitution,
not the constitution modified to suit the party's likings.
Mike

[J D Sauser]

I don't know many countries which have a simple constitution which basically only outlines the basics like the US has (which HAS been amended several times too, btw.). Even countries which have be "democratized" by the US (Germany and more recently maybe and arguably Iraq) have much more complex constitutions which include so many details that obviously, now and then they have to be amended or accommodated to the changes of times. Some countries' constitutions come as a BOOK!
On the other hand the US has a legal "system" which is not rigid and bases it self on case law, and thus finds itself in constant change. Something that often seems less the case in countries with a more complex constitution which may be amended every once in a while.

I am no legal expert at all, but I have read the DR constitution (the one they want to modify now) and found details, which in my opinion have no place in a constitution and inconsistencies which bare resemblance to the way they plan social housing around here .
At the end of all days, can you expect a solid constitution in a country where organization is not a popular discipline... and/or can you expect a country which changes constitution every two years (average) to have a chance to find an organized way to it's peace and progress?

But yes, once the changing bonanza starts, every ruling party will want to assume it's turn to accommodate things for them.

Anyways, we live in a country where laws change almost over night by presidential "decree" with virtually no apparent discussion or information. At the end, democracy seems reduced to electing the next "term"-dictator... but that's not just here.

... J-D.