1987 CONSTITUTION OF HAITI
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PREAMBLE
The Haitian people proclaim this constitution in order to:
Ensure their inalienable and imprescriptible rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness; in conformity with the Act of Independence of 1804 and the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Man of 1948.
Constitute a socially just, economically free, and politically independent Haitian nation.
Establish a strong and stable State, capable of protecting the country's values, traditions, sovereignty, independence and national vision.
Implant democracy, which entails ideological pluralism and political rotation and affirm the inviolable rights of the Haitian people.
Strengthen national unity by eliminating all discrimination between the urban and rural populations, by accepting the community of languages and culture and by recognizing the right to progress, information, education, health, employment and leisure for all citizens.
Ensure the separation and the harmonious distribution of the powers of the State at the service of the fundamental interests and priorities of the Nation.
Set up a system of government based on fundamental liberties, and the respect for human rights, social peace, economic equity, concerted action and participation of all the people in major decisions affecting the life of a nation, through effective decentralization.
TITLE I The Republic of Haiti
Its emblem and its symbols CHAPTER I
The Republic of Haiti FIRST ARTICLE:
Haiti is an indivisible, sovereign, independent, cooperatist, free, democratic and social republic.
FIRST ARTICLE-1: The city of Port-au-Prince is the capital and the seat of government. This seat may be moved elsewhere for reasons of force majeure.
ARTICLE 2:
The national colors shall be blue and red. ARTICLE 3:
The emblem of the Haitian Nation shall be a flag with the following description:
a. Two (2) equal sized horizontal bands: a blue one on top and a red one underneath;
b. The coat of arms of the Republic are: a Palette surmounted by the liberty cap, and under the palms a trophy with the legend:
In Union there is Strength
ARTICLE 4: The national motto is: Liberty; Equality, Fraternity.
ARTICLE 4-1: The national anthem shall be the "Dessalinienne."
ARTICLE 5: All Haitians are united by a common language: Creole. Creole and French are the official languages of the Republic
ARTICLE 6: The monetary unit shall be the gourde, which is divided into centimes.
ARTICLE 7: The cult of the personality is categorically forbidden. Effigies and names of living personages may not appear on the currency, stamps, seals, public buildings, streets or works of art.
ARTICLE 7-1: Use of effigies of deceased persons must be approved by the Legislature.
CHAPTER II Territory of the Haitian Republic
ARTICLE 8: The territory of the Haitian Republic comprises:
a. The western part of the island of Haiti and the adjacent island of la Geneva, La Tortue, I'Ile à Vache, les Cayemittes, La Navase, La Grande Caye and the other islands of the Territorial Sea;
b)It is bounded on the east by the Dominican Republic, on the north by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south and west by the Caribbean Sea or Sea of the Antilles;
c. The air space over the land sea of the Republic.
ARTICLE 8-1: The territory of the Haitian Republic is inviolable and may not be alienated either in whole or in part by any treaty or convention.
ARTICLE 9:
The territory of the Republic is divided and subdivided into Departments, Arrondissements, Comunes, Quartiers and Comunal actions.
ARTICLE 9-1: The law determines the number and boundaries of these divisions and subdivisions, and regulates their organization and operation.
TITLE II Haitian Nationality
ARTICLE 10: The regulations governing Haitian nationality shall be determined by law.
ARTICLE 11: Any person born of a Haitian father or Haitian mother who are themselves native- born Haitians and have never renounced their nationality possesses Haitian nationality at the time of birth.
ARTICLE 12: Haitian nationality may be adquired by naturalization.
ARTICLE 12-1: After five years of continuous residence in the territory of the Republic, any foreigner may obtain Haitian nationality by naturalization, in conformity with the regulations established by law.
ARTICLE 12-2: Haitians by naturalization shall be allowed to exercise the right to vote but they must wait five(5) years after the date of their naturalization to be eligible to hold public posts other than those reserved by the Constitution and by law for native- born Haitians.
ARTICLE 13: Haitian nationality is lost by:
a. Naturalization in a foreign country;
b. Holding a political post in the service of a foreign country;
c. Continuous residence abroad of a naturalized Haitian without duly granted authorization by a competent official. Anyone who loses his nationality in this manner may not reacquire it.
ARTICLE 14: A naturalized Haitian may recover his Haitian nationality by meeting all of the conditions and formalities imposed on aliens by the law.
ARTICLE 15: Dual Haitian and foreign nationality is in no case permitted.
TITLE III Basic Rights and Duties of the Citizen
CHAPTER I
The Nature of the Citizenship
ARTICLE 16: Citizenship entails both civil and political rights.
ARTICLE 16-1: The enjoyment, exercise , suspension and loss of these rights are regulated by law.
ARTICLE 16-2: The age of majority is eighteen (18) years.
ARTICLE 17: Al Haitians, regardless of sex or marital status, who have attained twenty-one years of age may exercise their political and civil rights if the meet the other conditions prescribed by the Constitution and by law.
ARTICLE 18: Haitians shall be equal before the law, subject to the special advantages conferred on native-born Haitians who have never renounced their nationality.
CHAPTER II Basic Rights SECTION A
Right to life and Health ARTICLE 19:
The State has the absolute obligation to guarantee the right to life, health, and respect of the human person for all citizens without distinction, in conformity with the Universal Declaration of the Rights of Man.
ARTICLE 20: The death penalty is abolished in all cases.
ARTICLE 21: The crime of high treason consists in bearing arms in a foreign army against the Republic, serving a foreign nation in a conflict with the Republic, in any official's stealing state property, intrusted to his management, or any violation of the Constitution by those responsible for enforcing it.
ARTICLE 21-1: The crime of high treason is punishable by forced labor for life without commutation of sentence.
ARTICLE 22: The State recognizes the right of every citizen to decent housing, education, food and social security.
ARTICLE 23: The State has the obligation to ensure for all citizens in all territorial divisions appropriate means to ensure protection, maintenance and restoration of their health by establishing hospitals, health centers and dispensaries.
SECTION B Individual Liberty
ARTICLE 24: Individual liberty is guaranteed and protected by the State.
ARTICLE 24-1: No one may be prosecuted, arrested or detained except in the cases determined by law and in the manner it prescribes.
ARTICLE 24-2: Except where the perpetrator of a crime is caught in the act, no one may be arrested or detained other than by written order of a legally competent official.
ARTICLE 24-3: For such an order to be carried out, the following requirements must be met:
a. It must formally state the reason in Creole and in French for the arrest or detention and the provision of the law that provides for punishment of the act charged.
b. Legal notice must be given and a copy of the order must be left with the accused at the time of its execution;
c. The accursed must be notified of his right to be assisted by counsel at all phases of the investigation of the case up to the final judgment;
d. Except where the perpetrator of a crime is caught in the act, no arrest by warrant and no search may take place between six (6) p.m. and six (6) a.m.
e. Responsibility for an offense is personal, and no one may be arrested in the place of another.
ARTICLE 25: Any unnecessary force or restraint in the apprehension of a person or in keeping him under arrest, or any psychological pressure or physical brutality, especially during interrogation, is forbidden.
ARTICLE 25-1: No one may be interrogated without his attorney or a witness of his choice being present.
ARTICLE 26: No one may be kept under arrest more than forty-eight (48) hours unless he has appeared before a judge asked to rule on the legality of the arrest and the judge has confirmed the arrest by a well-founded decision;
ARTICLE 26-1: In the case of a petty violation, the accursed shall be referred to a justice of the peace, who shall then hand down a final decision.
In the case for more serious offenses or crimes, an appeal may be filed, without prior permission, simply by addressing a petition to the presiding judge of the competent civil court, who, on the basis of the oral statement of the prosecutor, shall rule on the legality of the arrest and detention, in a special session of the court, without postponement or rotation of judges, all other cases being suspended.
ARTICLE 26-2:
If the arrest is judged to be illegal, the judge shall order the immediate release of the arrested person and that order shall be enforceable immediately, regardless of any appeal to a higher court or the supreme court for an order forbidding enforcement of the judgment.
ARTICLE 27: Any violation of the provisions on individual liberty are arbitrary acts. Injured parties may, without prior authorization, appeal to the competent courts, to bring suit against the authors and perpetrators of these arbitrary acts, regardless of their rank or the body to which they belong.
ARTICLE 27-1: Government officials and employees are directly liable under civil and administrative criminal law for acts carried out in violation of rights. In such cases, civil liability extends to the State as well.
SECTION C Freedom of Expression
ARTICLE 28: Every Haitian has the right to express his opinions freely on any matter by any means he chooses.
ARTICLE 28-1: Journalists shall freely exercise their profession within the framework of the law. Such exercise may not be subject to any authorization or censorship, except in the case of war.
ARTICLE 28-2: Journalists may not be compelled to reveal their sources. However, it is their duty to verify the authenticity and accuracy of information. It is also this obligation to respect the ethics of their profession.
ARTICLE 28-3: All offenses involving the press and abuses of the right of expression come under the code of criminal law.
ARTICLE 29: The right of petition is recognized. It is exercised personally by one or more citizens but never in the name of a body.
ARTICLE 29-1: All petitions to the Legislative Branch must give rise to the regulatory procedure for ruling upon their purpose.
SECTION D Freedom of Conscience
ARTICLE 30: All religions and faiths shall be freely exercised. Everyone is entitled to profess his religion and practice his faith, provided the exercise of that right does not disturb law and order.
ARTICLE 30-1: No one may be compelled to belong to a religious organization or to follow a religious teaching contrary to his convictions.
ARTICLE 30-2:
The law establishes the conditions for recognition and practice of religions and faiths.
SECTION E Freedom of Aassenbly and Association
ARTICLE 31: Freedom of unarmed assembly and association for political, economic, social, cultural or any other peaceful purposes is guaranteed.
ARTICLE 31-1: Political parties and groups shall compete with each other in the exercise of suffrage. They may be established and may carry outh their activities freely. They must respect the principles of national and democratic sovereignty. The law determines the conditions for their recognition and operation, and the advantages and privileges reserved to them.
ARTICLE 31-2: The police authorities must be notified in advance of assemblies outdoors in public places.
ARTICLE 31-3: No one may be compelled to join any association of any kind.
SECTION F Education aaand Teaching
ARTICLE 32: The State guarantees the right to education. It sees to the physical, intellectual, moral, professional, social and civic training of the population.
ARTICLE 32-1: Education is the responsibility of the State and its territorial divisions. They must make schooling available to all, free of charge, and ensure that public and private sector teachers are properly trained.
ARTICLE 32-2: The first responsibility of the State and its territorial divisions is education of the masses, which is the only way the country can be developed. The State shall encourage and facilitate private enterprise in this field.
ARTICLE 32-3: Primary schooling is compulsory under penalties to be prescribed by law. Classroom facilities and teaching materials shall be provided by the State to elementary school students free of charge.
ARTICLE 32-4: Agricultural, vocational, cooperative and technical training is a fundamental responsibility of the State and its communes.
ARTICLE 32-5: Preschool and maternal training, as well as nonformal education are encouraged.
ARTICLE 32-6: Higher education shall be open to all, on an equal bases, according to merit only.
ARTICLE 32-7: The State shall see to it that each territorial division, communal Section, commune or Department shall have the essential educational establishments adapted to the needs of their development, without however prejudicing the
priorities assigned to agricultural, vocational, cooperative and technical training, which must be widely disseminated.
ARTICLE 32-8: The State guarantees that the handicapped and the gifted shall have the means to ensure their autonomy, education and independence.
ARTICLE 32-9: The State and its territorial divisions have the duty to make all necessary provisions to intensify the literacy campaign for the masses. they encourage all private initiatives to that end.
ARTICLE 32-10: Teachers are entitled to a fair salary.
ARTICLE 33: There shall be freedom of education at all levels. This freedom shall be exercised under the control of the State.
ARTICLE 34: Except where perpetrators of crimes are caught in the act, the premises of educational establishments are inviolable. No police forces may enter them except with the permission of the supervisors of those establishments.
ARTICLE 34-1: This provision does not apply when an educational establishment is used for the purposes.
SECTION G Freedom to Work
ARTICLE 35: Freedom to work is guaranteed. every citizen has the obligation to engage in work of his choice to meet his own and his family's needs, and to cooperate with the State in the establishment of a social security system.
ARTICLE 35-1: Every employee of a private or public institution is entitled to a fair wage, to rest, to a paid annual vacation and to a bonus.
ARTICLE 35-2: The State guarantees workers equal working conditions and wages regardless of their sec, beliefs, opinions and marital status.
ARTICLE 35-3: Trade union freedom is guaranteed. any worker in the public or private sector may join a union representing his particular occupation solely to protect his work interests.
ARTICLE 35-4: Unions are essentially nonpolitical, nonprofit, and nondenominational. No one may be forced to join a union.
ARTICLE 35-5: The right to strike is recognized under the limits set by law.
ARTICLE 35-6: The minimum age for gainful employment is set by law. Special laws govern the work of minors and servants.
SECTION H
Property ARTICLE 36:
Private property is recognized and guaranteed. The law specifies the manner of acquiring and enjoying it, and the limits placed upon it.
ARTICLE 36-1: Expropriation for a public purpose may be effected only by payment or deposit ordered by a court in favor of the person entitled thereto, of fair compensation established in advance by an expert evaluation.
If the initial project is abandoned, the expropriation is canceled. The property may not be subject to any speculation and must be restored to its original owner without any reimbursement for the small holder. the expropriation measure is effective upon the startup of the project.
ARTICLE 36-2: Nationalization and confiscation of goods, property and buildings for political reasons are forbidden.
No one may be deprived of his legitimate right of ownership other than by a final judgment by a court of ordinary law, except under an agrarian reform.
ARTICLE 36-3: Ownership also entails obligations. Uses of property cannot be contrary to the general interest.
ARTICLE 36-4: Landowners must cultivate, work, and protect their land, particularly against erosion. the penalty for failure to fulfill this obligation shall be prescribed by law.
ARTICLE 36-5: The right to own property does not extend to the coasts, springs, rivers, water courses, mines and quarries. They are part of the State's public domain.
ARTICLE 36-6: The law shall establish regulations governing freedom to prospect for and work mines, or bearing earths, and quarries, ensuring an equal share of the profits of such exloitation to the owner of the land and to the Haitian State or its concessionnaires.
ARTICLE 37: The law shall set conditions for land division and aggregation in terms of a territorial management plan and the well-being of the communities concerned, within the framework of agrarian reform.
ARTICLE 38: Scientific, literary and artistic property is protected by law.
ARTICLE 39: The inhabitants of the Communal Sections have the right of preemption for the exploitation of the State's land in the private domain located in their locality.
SECTION I Right to Information
ARTICLE 40: The State has the obligation to publicize in the oral, written and televised press in the Creole and French languages all laws, orders, decrees, international agreements, treaties, and conventions on everything affecting the national life, except for information concerning national security.
SECTION J Right to Security
ARTICLE 41: No person of Haitian nationality may be deported or forced to leave the national territory for any reason. No one may be deprived for political reasons of his legal capacity and his nationality.
ARTICLE 41-1: No Haitian needs a visa to leave or return to the country.
ARTICLE 42: No citizen, whether civilian or military, may be denied access to the courts open to him under the Constitution and the laws.
ARTICLE 42-1: Military personnel accused of the crime of high treason against the country shall be tried in a court of ordinary law.
ARTICLE 42-2: Military courts have jurisdiction only:
a. In the case of violation by military personnel of regulations in the Manual of Military Justice;
b. In the case of conflicts between members of the armed forces;
c. In the case of war.
ARTICLE 42-3: Cases of conflicts between civilians and military personnel, abuses, violence and crimes perpetrated against a civilian by a member of the military in the performance of his duties are under the jurisdiction of courts for ordinary law.
ARTICLE 43: No house search or seizure of papers may take place except under the terms of the law and in the manner prescribed by it.
ARTICLE 44: Persons detained temporarily awaiting trial must be held separately from those who are serving sentence.
ARTICLE 44-1: Prisons must be operated in accordance with standards reflecting respect for human dignity according to the law on this subject.
ARTICLE 45: No penalty may be established except by law nor applied except in cases that the law determines.
ARTICLE 46:
No own may be compelled in cases of crimes, minor offenses, or petty violations to bear witness against himself or his relatives up to the fourth degree of consanguinity or the second degree of affinity.
ARTICLE 47: No one may be compelled to take an oath except in the cases and in the manner provided for by law.
ARTICLE 48: The State shall see to it that a Civil Pension Retirement Fund is established in the public and private sectors. The fund shall receive contributions from employers and employees, in accordance with the criteria and in the manner established by law. The granting of a pension is a right and not a privilege.
ARTICLE 49: Freedom and privacy of correspondence and any other forms of communication are inviolable. They may be limited only by a well-founded judicial ruling, according to the guarantees by law.
ARTICLE 50: Under the Constitution and the law, a jury is established in criminal cases for violent crimes and political offenses.
ARTICLE 51: The law may not be made retroactive except in criminal cases when it favors the accused.
CHAPTER III Duties of the Citizen
ARTICLE 52: Citizenship entails civic duties. Every right is counterbalanced by a corresponding duty.
ARTICLE 52-1: Civic duties are the citizen's moral, political, social and economic obligations as a hole to the State and the country. These obligations are:
a. To respect the Constitution and the national emblem;
b. To respect the laws;
c. To vote in elections without constraint;
d. To pay his taxes;
e. To serve on a jury;
f. To defend the country in the event of war;
g. To educate and improve himself;
h. To respect and protect the environment;
i. To respect scrupulously the revenues and properties of the State;
j. To respect the property of others;
k. To work to maintain peace;
l. To provide assistance to persons in danger;
m. To respect the rights and freedom of others.
ARTICLE 52-2: Failure to abide by these provisions shall be punishable by law.
ARTICLE 52-3: Compulsory civic service for both sexes is established. The terms thereof shall be set by law.
TITLE IV Aliens
ARTICLE 53: The conditions under which aliens may be admitted to or remain in the country are established by law.
ARTICLE 54: Aliens in the territory of the Republic shall enjoy the same protection accorded to Haitians, under the law.
ARTICLE 54-1: Aliens enjoy civil, economic and social rights subject to legal provisions on the right to own real property, the practice of a profession, engaging in wholesale trade, serving as a commercial representative, and engaging in import and export operations.
ARTICLE 55: The right to own real property is accorded to aliens resident in Haiti for the needs of their sojourn in the country.
ARTICLE 55-1: However, aliens residing in Haiti may not own more than one dwelling in the name Arrondissement. They may in no case engage int he business of renting real estate. However, foreign companies engaged in real estate promotion shall receive the benefits of a special status regulated by law.
ARTICLE 55-2: The right to own real property shall be accorded also to aliens residing in Haiti and to foreign companies for the needs of their agricultural, commercial, industrial, religious, humanitian or educational enterprises, within the limits and under the conditions prescribed by law.
ARTICLE 55-3: No alien may be the owner of a building bounded by the Haitian land order.
ARTICLE 55-4: The right terminates five(5) years after an alien ceases to reside in the country or the operation of this companies have terminates, pursuant to the law establishing
regulations to be followed for the transmission and liquidation of property owned by aliens.
ARTICLE 55-5: Violators of the above provisions and their accomplices shall be punished as provided for in the law.
ARTICLE 56: An alien may be expelled from the territory of the Republic if he becomes involved in the political life of the country, or in cases determined by law.
ARTICLE 57: The right to asylum for political refugees is recognized.
TITLE V National Sovereignty
ARTICLE 58: National sovereignty is vested in all citizens.
Citizens directly exercise the prerogatives of sovereignty by:
a. Electing the President of the Republic;
b. Electing members of the Legislature;
c. Electing members of all other bodies or all assemblies provided for by the Constitution and by law.
ARTICLE 59: Citizens delegate the exercise of national sovereignty to three (3) branches of government:
1. The Legislative Branch;
2. The Executive Branch;
3. The Judicial Branch.
The principle of separation of the Three (3) branches is embodied in the Constitution.
ARTICLE 59-1: The Three (3) branches constitute the essential foundation of the organization of the State, which is civil.
ARTICLE 60: Each branch is independent of the other two (2) in the powers it exercises separately.
ARTICLE 60-1: None of them may, for any reason, delegate their powers in all or in part, nor go beyond the bounds set for them by the Constitution and by law.
ARTICLE 60-2: Each of the Three (3) branches is entirely responsible for its own acts.
CHAPTER I Territorial Divisions And Decentralization
ARTICLE 61: The territorial divisions are the Communal Sections, the Communes and the Departments.
ARTICLE 61-1: The law may create any other territorial division.
SECTION A Communal Sections
ARTICLE 62: The CommunalSection is the smallest administrative territorial entity of the Republic.
ARTICLE 63: Each Communal Section is administered by a council of three (3) members elected by universal suffrage for four (4) years. They may be re-elected an indefinite number of times.
Their mode of organization and operation is regulated by law.
ARTICLE 63-1: The Administrative Council of the Communal Section is assisted in its work by an Assembly of the Communal Section.
ARTICLE 64: The state is obligated to establish for each Communal Section the structures required for social, economic, civic and cultural training of its population.
ARTICLE 65: Members of the Administrative Council of the Communal Section must:
a. Be Haitians and be at least twenty-five (25) years of age;
b. Have resided in the Communal Section for two (2) years before the elections and continue to reside there:
c. Enjoy civil and political rights and never been sentenced to death, personal restraint or penal servitude or the loss of civil rights.
SECTION B Communes
ARTICLE 66: Communes have administrative and financial autonomy. Each Commune of the Republic is administered by a Council, known as the Municipal Council, of three (3) members elected by universal suffrage.
ARTICLE 66-1:
The President of the council is assisted in its work by a Municipal Assembly composed among others, of a representative of each of its Communal sections.
ARTICLE 67: The Municipal Council is assisted in its work by a Municipal Assembly composed, among others, of a representative of each of its Communal Sections.
ARTICLE 68: The Municipal term is four (4) years, and its members may be re-elected for an indefinite number of terms.
ARTICLE 69: The mode of organization and operation of the Commune and the Municipal Council are regulated by law.
ARTICLE 70: Members of a Municipal Council must:
a. Be Haitians;
b. Have attained twenty-five (25) years of age;
c. Enjoy civil and political rights;
d. Have never been sentenced to death, personal restraint or penal servitude or the loss of civil rights;
e. Have resided at least three (3) years in the Commune and undertake to reside there for the duration of their term.
ARTICLE 71: Each Municipal Council is assisted at its request by a Technical Council furnished by the Central Government.
ARTICLE 72: The Municipal Council may be dissolved for negligence, embezzlement, or maladministration, legally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
If it is dissolved, the Departmental Council shall immediately fill the vacancy and call upon the Permanent Electoral Council to elect, in sixty (60) days starting from the date the Council is dissolved, a new Council and shall manage the affairs of the Commune for the remainder of the term. This procedure also applies to vacancies occurring for any other reason.
ARTICLE 73: The Municipal Council manages its resources for the exclusive benefit of the Municipality and renders its accounts to the Municipal Assembly which in turn reports to the Departmental Council.
ARTICLE 74:
The Municipal Council has priority in management of the State's real property in the private domain located within the limits of its Commune. They may not be subject to any transaction without the prior consent of the Municipal Assembly.
SECTION C Arrondissements
ARTICLE 75: The Arrondissement is an administrative division that may comprise several Communes. Its organization and operations are governed by law.
SECTION D DEPARTMENTS
ARTICLE 76: The Department is the largest territorial division. It comprises the Arrondissements.
ARTICLE 77: The Department has legal personality and is autonomous.
ARTICLE 78: Each Department is administered by a Council of three (3) members elected for four (4) years by the Departmental Assembly.
ARTICLE 79: Members of the Departmental Council are not necessarily drawn from the Assembly, but they must:
a. Be Haitians and at least twenty-five (25) years of age;
b. Have resided in the Department three (3) years before the elections and undertake to remain there during their term;
c. Enjoy civil and political rights and have newer been sentenced to death, personal restraint, or penal servitude or the loss of civil rights.
ARTICLE 80: The departmental Council is assisted in its work by a Departmental Assembly made up of:
One (1) representative form each Municipal Assembly.
ARTICLE 80-1: The following may attend Assembly meetings in an advisory capacity:
a. Deputies and Senators of the Department;
b. One (1) representative of each socie-professional association or union;
c. The Departmental Delegate;
d. The Director of Public Services of the Department.
ARTICLE 81: The Departmental Council draws up the Department's development plan in cooperation with the Central Government.
ARTICLE 82: The organization and operations of the Departmental Council and the Departmental Assembly are regulated by law.
ARTICLE 83: The Departmental Council manages its financial resources for the exclusive benefit of the Department and renders its accounts to the Departmental Assembly, which in turn reports to the Central Government.
ARTICLE 84: The Departmental Council may be dissolved in the event of embezzlement or maladministration legally determined by a court of competent jurisdiction.
If it is dissolved, the Central Government appoints a Provisional Commission and calls upon the Permanent Electoral Council to elect a new Council for the remainder of the term within sixty (60) days of the dissolution.
SECTION E Delegates and Vice Presidents
ARTICLE 85: In each Departmental Capital, the Executive Branch appoints a Representative, who bears the title of Delegate. A Vice Delegate placed under the authority of the Delegate is also appointed in each Arrondissement Capital.
ARTICLE 86: Delegates and Vice Delegates ensure coordination and control of public services and exercise no repressive police function.
Other duties of delegates and Vice Delegates are determined by law.
SECTION F Interdepartamental Council
ARTICLE 87: The Executive is assisted by an Interdepartmental Council, the members of which are designated by the Departmental Assemblies on the basis of one (1) per Department.
ARTICLE 87-1: This Representative chosen form among the members of the Departmental Assemblies serves as liaison between the Department and the Executive Branch.
ARTICLE 87-2: The interdepartmental Council, in concert with the executive, studies and plans projects for decentralization and development of the country from the social, economic, commercial, agricultural and industrial standpoint.
ARTICLE 87-3: It attends working meetings of the Council of Ministers, when they discuss subjects mentioned in the preceding paragraph and has the right to vote.
ARTICLE 87-4: Decentralization must be accompanied by deconcentration of public services with delegation of power and industrial decompartmentalization for the benefit of the departments.
ARTICLE 87-5: The law determines the organization and operation of the Interdepartmental Council, and the frequency of the meetings of the Council of Ministers, in which it participates.
CHAPTER II The Legislative Branch
ARTICLE 88: Legislative power shall be vested in two (2) representative Houses. One (1) House of Deputies and one (1) Senate, comprising the Legislature or Parliament.
SECTION A The House of Deputies
ARTICLE 89: The House of Deputies is a body composed of members elected by direct suffrage by the citizens and is responsible for exercising, on their behalf and in concert with the Senate, the functions of the legislative branch.
ARTICLE 90: Each Municipal Authority comprises an electoral district and elects one (1) Deputy.
The law sets up to three (3) the number of Deputies at the level of large built-up areas.
Pending application of the above subparagraphs, the number of Deputies may not be fewer than seventy (70).
ARTICLE 90-1: Deputies are elected by an absolute majority of votes cast in the Primary Assemblies, according to the conditions and in the manner prescribed by the Electoral Law.
ARTICLE 91: To be elected a member of the House of Deputies, a person must:
1. Be a native Haitian and have never renounced his nationality;
2. Have attained twenty-five (25) years of age;
3. Enjoy civil and political rights and never have been sentenced to death, personal restraint or penal servitude or the loss of civil rights for any crime of ordinary law;
4. Have resided at least two (2) consecutive years prior to the date of the elections in the electoral district he is to represent;
5. Own at least one real property in the district and practice a profession or trade;
6. Have been relieved, if need be, of his responsibilities as a manager of public funds.
ARTICLE 92: Deputies are elected for four (4) years and may be reelected an indefinite number of times.
ARTICLE 92-1: The take office on the second Monday of January, and sit in two (2) annual meetings. The duration of their term comprises a legislative session.
ARTICLE 92-2: The first session runs from the second Monday of January to the second Monday of May; the second session, from the second Monday of June to the second Monday of September.
ARTICLE 92-3: The House of Deputies is completely replaced every four (4) years.
ARTICLE 93: Beside the duties conferred upon it by the Constitution as a branch of the Legislature, the House of Deputies has the duty of arraigning the Chief of State, the Prime Minister, the Ministers and the Secretaries of State before the High Court of Justice, by a majority of two-thirds (2/3) of this members. The other powers of the House of Deputies are assigned by the Constitution and by law.
SECTION B The Senate
ARTICLE 94: The Senate is a body composed of members elected by direct suffrage of the citizens and charged with exercising on their behalf, in concert with the House of Deputies, the duties of the Legislative Branch.
ARTICLE 94-1: The number of Senators is set at three (3) per Department.
ARTICLE 94-2: A Senator of Republic is elected by universal suffrage by an absolute majority of votes in the Primary Assemblies held in the geographic Departments, under the terms prescribed by the Electoral Law.
ARTICLE 95: Senators are elected for six (6) years and may be reelected an indefinite number of times.
ARTICLE 95-1: The Senate is permanently session.
ARTICLE 95-2: The Senate may however adjourn, but not during the Legislative Section. When it adjourns, it leaves a permanent, committee charged with handling current business. The committee may not make any decisions, except to convene the Senate.
In emergencies, the Executive may also convene the Senate before the end of the adjournment period.
ARTICLE 95-3: One-third (1/3) of the Senate is replaced every two (2) years.
ARTICLE 96: To be elected to the Senate, a person must:
1. Be a native-born Haitian and never have renounced his nationality;
2. Have attained thirty (30) years of age;
3. Enjoy civil and political rights and never have been sentenced to death, personal restraint or penal servitude or the loss of civil rights for a crime of ordinary law;
4. Have resided in the Department he will represent, at least four (4) consecutive years prior to the date of the elections;
5. Own at least one (1) real property in the Department and practice a profession or trade there;
6. Have been relieved, if need be, of his responsibilities as a manager of public funds.
ARTICLE 97: In addition to the responsibilities incumbent upon it as a branch of the Legislature, the Senate shall have the following powers:
1. To propose to the Executive the list of Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation) justices according to the provisions of the Constitution;
2. Constitute itself as a High Court of Justice;
3. Exercise all other powers assigned to it by this Constitution and by law.
SECTION C The National Assembly
ARTICLE 98: The meeting in a single Assembly of the two (2) branches of the Legislature constitutes the National Assembly.
ARTICLE 98-1: The National Assembly meets to open and close each session and in all cases provided for by the Constitution.
ARTICLE 98-2:
The powers of the National Assembly are limited and may not be extended to matters other than those especially assigned to it by the Constitution.
ARTICLE 98-3: The Assembly's powers are:
1. To receive the constitutional oath of the President of the Republic;
2. To ratify any decision to declare war when all efforts at conciliation have failed;
3. To approve or reject international treaties and conventions;
4. To amend the Constitution according to the procedure indicated herein;
5. To ratify decisions of the Executive to move the seat of the Government in cases determined by the first article of this Constitution;
6. To decide on when a state of siege shall be declared, to order with the Executive that Constitutional guarantees shall be suspended, and to decide on any request to renew that measure;
7. To contribute to selecting members of the Permanent Electoral Council, pursuant to article 92 of this Constitution;
8. To receive at the opening of each session the report on the Government's activities.
ARTICLE 99: The National Assembly is presided over by the President of the Senate, assisted by the President of the House of Deputies acting as Vice President. the Secretaries of the Senate and the House of Deputies are the Secretaries of the National Assembly.
ARTICLE 99-1: In the event the President of the Senate is unable to discharge his duties, the National Assembly shall be presided over by the President of the House of Deputies, and the Vice President of the Senate shall then become Vice President of the National Assembly.
ARTICLE 99-2: In the event the two (2) Presidents are unable to discharge their duties, the two (2) Vice-Presidents shall replace them, respectively.
ARTICLE 100: Sessions of the National Assembly are public. However, they may be held in closed session at the request of five (5) members, and the resumption of public sessions shall then be decided by an absolute majority.
ARTICLE 101: In emergencies, when the Legislature is not in session, the Executive Branch may call a special session of the National Assembly.
ARTICLE 102: The National Assembly may not meet or take decisions and pass resolutions without a majority of each of the two (2) Houses being present.
ARTICLE 103: The Legislature has its seat in Port-au-Prince. However, depending on the circumstances, this seat may be transferred elsewhere to the same place and at the same time as that of the Executive Branch.
SECTION D Exercise of Legislative Power
ARTICLE 104: A session of the Legislature dates from the opening of the two (2) Houses meeting as the National Assembly.
ARTICLE 105: In the interval between regular sessions and in emergencies, the President of the Republic may call a special session of the Legislature.
ARTICLE 106: The Chief of the Executive Branch reports on that measure by a message.
ARTICLE 107: In the event the Legislature is convened in special session, it may not decide on any matter other than that for which it was called.
ARTICLE 107-1: However, any Senator or Deputy may introduce a matter of general interest in an Assembly of which he is a member.
ARTICLE 108: Each House checks and validates the credentials of its members and is the final judge of any disputes that may arise in this regard.
ARTICLE 109: The members of each House shall take the following oath:
"I swear to discharge my duties, to maintain and safeguard the rights of the people, and to be faithful to the Constitution".
ARTICLE 110: Meetings of the two (2) Houses are public. Each House may meet in closed session at the request of five (5) members, and the decision to resume public meetings shall then be taken by a majority vote.
ARTICLE 111: The Legislature takes the laws on all matters of public interest.
ARTICLE 111-1: Laws may be initiated by each of the two (2) Houses as well as by the Executive Branch.
ARTICLE 111-2: However, only the Executive Branch may initiate budget laws, laws concerning the assessment, percentage and manner of collecting taxes and contributions, and laws designed to generate revenues or to increase revenues and
expenditures of the Government, Bills introduced on these matters must be voted on first by the House of Deputies.
ARTICLE 111-3: In the event of disagreement between the two (2) Houses regarding the laws mentioned in the preceding paragraph, each House shall appoint, by voting on a list of an equal number of members, a parliamentary committee that will make a final decision on the disagreement.
ARTICLE 111-4: If a disagreement occurs with regard to any other law, a decision on it will be postponed until the following session. If, at that session, and even in the case of replacement of the Houses no agreement is reached on the law when it is introduced again, each House shall appoint, by taking a vote on a list of an equal number of members, a parliamentary committee to decide on the final text that will be submitted to the two (2) Assemblies, beginning with the one that originally voted on the law. If these additional deliberations produce no result, the Bill or proposed law will be withdrawn.
ARTICLE 111-5: In the event of disagreement between the Legislature and the Executive Branch, the disagreement shall, at the request of one of the parties, be referred to the Conciliation Committee provided for in article 206 below.
ARTICLE 111-6: If the Committee fails to reach a decision it shall draw up a report of nonconciliation, which it shall remit to the two (2) high parties and inform the Supreme Court thereof.
ARTICLE 111-7: Within two weeks of receipt of this report, the disagreement shall be referred to the Supreme Court. Sitting as a full court, the Court shall hand down its decision forthwith, setting all other matters aside. Its decision shall be final and is binding on the high parties. If, meanwhile, the high parties reach agreement, the terms of the agreement shall as a matter of course terminate the procedure under way.
ARTICLE 111-8: In no case may the House of Deputies or the Senate be dissolved or adjourned, nor shall the terms of their members be extended.
ARTICLE 112: Each House shall, in accordance with its regulations appoint its staff, establish discipline for them and determine the manner in which they shall perform their duties.
ARTICLE 112-1: Each House may impose on its members for reprehensible conduct, by a two thirds (2/3) majority vote, disciplinary penalties, except for expulsion.
ARTICLE 113: Any member of the Legislature shall be disqualified as a Deputy or Senator, if, during his term, he has received a final sentence by a court of regular law, which renders him ineligible to serve.
ARTICLE 114:
Members of the Legislature are inviolable form the day the take oath up to the expiration of their term, subject to the provisions of article 115 below.
ARTICLE 114-1: They may at no time be prosecuted or attacked for the opinions and votes cast by them in the discharge o their duties.
ARTICLE 114-2: No member of the Legislature shall be subject to civil imprisonment during his term of office.
ARTICLE 115: No member of the Legislature may during his term be arrested under ordinary law for a crime, a minor offense or a petty violation, except by authorization of the House of which he is a member, unless he is apprehended in the act of committing an offense punishable by death, personal restraint or penal servitude or the loss of civil rights. In that case, the matter is referred to the House of Deputies or the Senate without delay of the Legislature is in session, and if not, it shall be taken up the next regular or special session.
ARTICLE 116: Neither of the two (2) Houses may sit or take action without the presence of a majority of its members.
ARTICLE 117: All acts of the Legislature must be approved by a majority of the members present, unless otherwise stipulated in this Constitution.
ARTICLE 118: Each House has the right to investigate matters brought before it.
ARTICLE 119: All bills must be voted on article by article.
ARTICLE 120: Each House has the right to amend and to divide articles and amendments proposed. Amendments voted on by one House may be part of a bill only after it has been voted on by the other House in the same forme and in identical terms. No bill shall become a law until it has been voted on in the same form by the two (2) Houses.
ARTICLE 120-2: Any bill may be withdrawn from discussion so long as it has not been finally voted upon.
ARTICLE 121: Any bill passed by the Legislature shall be immediately forwarded to the President of the Republic, who, before promulgation it, has the right to make objections to it in all or in part.
ARTICLE 121-1: In such cases, the President of the Republic send back the bill with his objections to the House where it was originally passed, If the bill is amended by that house, it is sent to the other Houses with the objections.
ARTICLE 121-2: If the bill thus amended is voted on by the second House, it will be sent back to the President of the Republic for promulgation.
ARTICLE 121-3: If the objection are rejected by the House that originally passed the bill, it shall be returned to the other House with the objections.
ARTICLE 121-4: If the second House also votes to reject it, the bill is sent back to the President of the Republic, who must then promulgate it.
ARTICLE 121-5: Rejection of the objection is voted on by either House by the majority stipulated in article 117. In such cases, the votes of each House shall be taken by secret ballot.
ARTICLE 121-6: If in either House the Majority stipulated in the preceding paragraph is not obtained for the rejection, the objections are accepted.
ARTICLE 122: The right of objection must be exercised within eight (8) full days starting with the date of the receipt of the bill by the President of the Republic.
ARTICLE 123: If within the prescribed deadline, the President of the Republic has made expiration, the bill must be promulgated unless the session of the Legislature has ended before exploration of the deadline, in which case, the bill is deferred. At the opening of the following session, the bill thus deferred is sent to the President of the Republic to exercise his right of objection.
ARTICLE 124: A bill rejected by one of the two (2) Houses may not be introduced again in the same session.
ARTICLE 125: Bills and other acts of the Legislature and the National Assembly shall enter into force with their promulgation and their publication in the Official Gazette (Journal Officiel) of the Republic.
ARTICLE 125-1: Bills shall be numbered and included in the printed and numbered bulletin entitled BULLETIN OF LAWS AND ACTS.
ARTICLE 126: The bill is dated on the day of it final adoption by the two (2) Houses.
ARTICLE 127: No one may submit petitions in person to the Legislature.
ARTICLE 128: Only the Legislature Branch has the authority to interpret laws, which it does by passing a law.
ARTICLE 129: Each member of the Legislature receives a monthly stipend from the time he takes oath.
ARTICLE 129-1: Service as a member of the Legislature is incompatible with any other duty remunerated by the State, except that of teacher.
ARTICLE 129-2:
Every member of the two (2) Houses has the right to question and interpellate a member of the Government or the entire Government on events and acts of the Administration.
ARTICLE 129-3: As interpellation request must be seconded by five (5) members of the body concerned. it becomes a vote of confidence or of censure when passed by a majority of that body.
ARTICLE 129-4: When the interpellation request ends in a votes of censure on a question concerning a Government program or declaration of general policy, the Prime Minister must submit his Government's resignation to the President of the Republic.
ARTICLE 129-5: The president must accept that resignation and appoint new Primer Minister, pursuant to the provisions of this Constitution.
ARTICLE 129-6: The Legislature may not pass more than one vote of censure a year on a question concerning a Government program or declaration of general policy.
ARTICLE 130: In the case of the death, resignation, disqualification, judicial interdiction, or acceptance of a duty incompatible with that of a member of the Legislature, the Deputy or Senator shall be replaced in his Electoral District for only the remainder of his term by a by-election called by the Primary Electoral Assembly to be conducted by the Permanent Electoral Council in the month he vacancy occurs.
ARTICLE 130-1: The election shall take place within thirty (30) days after convocation of the Primary Assembly, pursuant to the Constitution.
ARTICLE 130-2: The same procedure shall apply in the absence of an election or in the event that elections are declared null and void by the Permanent Electoral Council in one or more Electoral Districts.
ARTICLE 130-3: However, if the vacancy occurs during the last regular session of the Legislature or after that session, a by-election may not be held.
SECTION E Incompatibilities ARTICLE 131:
The following may not be elected members of the Legislature:
1. Government concessionnaires or contractors for the performance of public services;
2. Representatives or agents of Government contractors or concessionnaires, or companies or corporations that have Government concessions or contracts;
3. Delegated, Vice Delegates, judges, and officers of the Public Prosecutor's Office whose duties have not terminated six (6) months before the date set for the elections;
4. Any person who comes under the other cases of ineligibility stipulates by this Constitution and by law.
ARTICLE 132: Members of the Executive Branch and the Director Generals of Government departments may not be elected members of the Legislature unless they resign at least one (1) year before the date of the elections.
CHAPTER III The Executive Branch
ARTICLE 133: The Executive power is vested in:
a. The President of the Republic, who is the Head of State.
b. The Government, which is headed by a Prime Minister.
SECTION A The President of the Republic
ARTICLE 134: The President of the Republic is elected in direct universal suffrage by an absolute majority of votes. If that majority is not obtained in the first election, a second election is held.
Only the two (2) candidates who, if such be the case, after the withdrawal of more favored candidates, have received the largest number of votes in the first election may run in the second election.
ARTICLE 134-1: The term of the President is five (5) years. This term begins and ends on the February 7 following the date of the elections.
ARTICLE 134-2: Presidential election shall take place the last Sunday of November in the fifth year of the President's term.
ARTICLE 134-3: The President of the Republic may not be re-elected. He may serve an additional term only after an interval of five (5) years. He may in no case run for a third term.
ARTICLE 135: To be elected President of the Republic of Haiti, a candidate must:
a. Be a native-born Haitian and never have renounced Haitian nationality;
b. Have attained thirty-five (35) years of age by the election day;
c. Enjoy civil and political rights and never have been sentenced to death, personal restraint or penal servitude or the loss of civil rights for a crime of ordinary law;
d. Be the owner in Haiti of at least one real property and have his habitual residence in the country;
e. Have resided in the country for five (5) consecutive years before the date of the elections;
f. Have been relieved of this responsibilities if he has been handling public funds.
ARTICLE 135-1: Before taking office, the President of the Republic shall take the following oath before the National Assembly: "I swear before God and the Nation faithfully to observe and enforce the Constitution and the laws of the Republic, to respect and cause to be respected the rights of the Haitian people, to work for the greatness of the country, and to maintain the nation's independence and the integrity of its territory".
SECTION B Duties of the President of the Republic
ARTICLE 136: The President of the Republic, who is the Head of State, shall see to the respect for and enforcement of the Constitution and the stability of the institutions. He shall ensure the regular operations of the public authorities and the continuity of the State.
ARTICLE 137: The President of the Republic shall choose a Prime Minister from among the members of the majority party of the Parliament. In the absence of such a majority, the President of the Republic shall choose his Prime Minister in consultation with the President of the Senate and the President of the House of Deputies.
In either case, the President's choice must be ratified by the Parliament.
ARTICLE 137-1: The President of the Republic shall terminate the duties of the Prime Minister upon the letter's submission of the Government's resignation.
ARTICLE 138: The President of the Republic is the guarantor of the nation's independence and the integrity of its territory.
ARTICLE 139: He shall negotiate and sign all international treaties, conventions and agreements and submit them to the National Assembly for ratification.
ARTICLE 139-1:
He shall accredit ambassadors and special envoys to foreign powers, receive letters of accreditation from ambassadors of foreign powers and issued exequatur to consuls.
ARTICLE 140: He declares war, and negotiates and signs peace treaties with the approval of the National Assembly.
ARTICLE 141: With the approval of the Senate, the President appoints, by a decree issued in the Council of Ministers, the Commander-in-chief of the armed forces, the Commander-in-chief of the police, ambassadors and consul generals.
ARTICLE 142: By a decree issued in the Council of Ministers, the President of the Republic appoints the directors general of the civil service, and delegates and vice delegates of Departments and Arrondissements.
He also appoints, with the approval of the Senate, Administrative Councils of Autonomous Agencies.
ARTICLE 143: The President of the Republic is the nominal head of the armed forces, but he never commands them in person.
ARTICLE 144: He has the seal of the Republic affixed to all laws and promulgates them within deadline stipulated by the Constitution. Before the expiration of that deadline, he may avail himself of his right of objection.
ARTICLE 145: He sees to the enforcement of judicial decisions, pursuant to the law.
ARTICLE 146: The President of the Republic has the right to perform and commute sentences in all res judica cases, except for sentences handed down by the High Court of Justice as stipulated in this Constitution.
ARTICLE 147: He may grant amnesty only for political matters as stipulated by law.
ARTICLE 148: If the President finds it temporarily impossible to discharge his duties the Executive Authority shall be vested in the Council of Ministers under the Presidency of the Prime Minister, so long as the disability continues.
ARTICLE 149: Should the office of the President of the Republic become vacant for any reason, the President of the Supreme Court of the Republic, or in his absence, the Vice President of that Court, or in his absence, the judge with the highest seniority and so on by order of seniority, shall be invested temporarily with the duties of the President of the Republic by the National Assembly duly convened by the Prime Minister- The election of a new President for a new five (5) year term shall be held at least forty-five (45) and no more than ninety (90) days after the vacancy occurs, pursuant to the Constitution and the Electoral Law.
ARTICLE 149-1: The acting President may in no case be a candidate in the next Presidential election.
ARTICLE 150: The President of the republic shall have no powers other than those accorded to him by the Constitution.
ARTICLE 151: At the opening of each annual session of the Legislature, the President of the Republic shall deliver a message to the Legislature on the State of the Nation. This message may not be debated.
ARTICLE 152: The President of the Republic shall receive a monthly salary from the Public Treasury upon taking the oath of office.
ARTICLE 153: The President of the Republic shall have his official residence in the National Palace, in the capital city, unless the seat of the Executive Branch is moved.
ARTICLE 154: The President of the Republic presides over the Council of Ministers.
SECTION C The Government ARTICLE 155:
The Government is composed of the Prime Minister, the Ministers and Secretaries of State. The Prime Minister is the head of the Government.
ARTICLE 156: The Government conducts the policy of the Nation. It is responsible before Parliament under the terms stipulated by the Constitution.
ARTICLE 157: To be appointed Prime Minister, a person must:
1. Be a native-born Haitian, and never have renounced Haitian nationality;
2. Have attained thirty (30) years of age;
3. Enjoy civil and political rights and never have been sentenced to death, personal restraint or penal servitude or the loss of civil rights;
4. Own real property in Haiti and practice a profession there;
5. Have resided in the county for five (5) consecutive years;
6. Have been relieved of his responsibilities if he has been handling public funds.
SECTION D Powers of The Prime Minister
ARTICLE 158:
With the approval of the President, the Prime Minister shall choose the members of his Cabinet of Ministers and shall go before Parliament to obtain a vote of confidence on his declaration of general policy. The vote shall be taken in open ballot, and an absolute majority of both Houses is required.
In the event of a vote of nonconfidence by one of the two (2) Houses, the procedure shall be repeated.
ARTICLE 159: The Prime Minister enforces the laws. In the event of the President of the Republic's absence or temporary inability to perform his duties, or at his request, the Prime Minister presides over the Council of Ministers. He has the power to issue rules and regulations but he can never suspend or interpret laws, acts or decrees, nor refrain from enforcing them.
ARTICLE 159-1: In concert with the President of the Republic, he is responsible for national defense.
ARTICLE 160: The Prime Minister appoints and dismisses directly or by delegation Government officials, according to the provisions of the Constitution and the law on the general regulations for Government operations.
ARTICLE 161: The Prime Minister and the Ministers may appear before the two (2) Houses to support bills and the objections of the President of the Republic and to reply to interpellation.
ARTICLE 162: Acts of the Prime Minister are countersigned, if need by the Ministers responsible for enforcing them. The Prime Ministers may be assigned a Ministerial portfolio.
ARTICLE 163: The Prime Minister and the Ministers are jointly responsible for the acts of the President of the Republic and of their ministers that they countersign. They are also responsible for enforcement of the laws in the areas of their competence.
ARTICLE 164: The duties of the Prime Minister and of a member of the Government are incompatible with membership in the Parliament. If such a case occurs, the member of Parliament must choose one duty or the other.
ARTICLE 165: In the event of the Prime Minister's resignation, the government remains in place until the appointment of a successor, in order to transact current business.
SECTION E The Ministers and Secretaries of State
ARTICLE 166: The President of the Republic presides over the Council of Ministers. The number of Ministers may be no fewer than ten (10).
When he deems it necessary, the Prime Minister may appoints Secretaries of State to the Ministers.
ARTICLE 167: The number of Ministers is set by law.
ARTICLE 168: Holding a ministerial post is incompatible with the exercise of all other public employment, except for higher education.
ARTICLE 169: Ministers are responsible for the acts of the Prime Minister that they countersign. They are jointly responsible for enforcement of the laws.
ARTICLE 169-1: In no case may an oral or written order of the President of the Republic or of the Prime Minister release Ministers from the responsibilities of their office.
ARTICLE 170: The Prime Minister, the Ministers and the Secretaries of State receive monthly salaries established by the Budgetary law.
ARTICLE 171: Ministers appoint certain categories of Government employees by delegation of the Prime Minister, according to the conditions set by the law on Government operations.
ARTICLE 172: When one of the two (2) Houses during an interpellation calls into question the responsibility of a Minister by a vote of censure passed by an absolute majority of its members, the Executive shall recall the Minister.
CHAPTER IV The Judiciary ARTICLE 173:
The Judicial Power shall be vested in the Supreme Court (Cour de Cassation), the Courts of Appeal, Courts of First Instance, Courts of Peace and special courts, whose number, composition, organization, operation and jurisdiction are set by law.
ARTICLE 173-1: Civil rights cases are exclusively the competence of the courts.
ARTICLE 173-2: No court and no jurisdiction in disputed matters may be established except by law. No special court may be established under any name whatever.
ARTICLE 174: Judges of the Supreme Court and the Courts of Appeal are appointed for ten (10) years. Judges of the Courts of First Instance are appointed for seven (7) years. Their term begins at the time they take their oath of office.
ARTICLE 175: Supreme Court justices are appointed by the President of the Republic form a list submitted by the Senate of three (3) persons per court seat. Judges of the Courts of Appeal and Courts of First Instance are appointed from a list submitted by the
Departmental Assembly concerned; Justices of the Peace are appointed from a list draw up by the Communal Assemblies.
ARTICLE 176: The law regulates the conditions required for serving as a judge at any level. A School of the Magistrature shall be established.
ARTICLE 177: Judges of the Supreme Court, the Courts of Appeal and the Courts of First Instance are appointed for life. They may be removed from office only because of a legally determined abuse of authority or be suspended following and indictment leveled against them. They may not be reassigned, without their consent, even in the case of a promotion. Their service may be terminated during their term of office only in the event of a duly determined permanent physical or mental incapacity.
ARTICLE 178: The Supreme Court does not try cases on their merits. Nevertheless, in all cases other than those submitted to a jury, when a case between the same parties is tried upon second appeal, even with an incidental plea of defense, the Supreme Court, accepting the appeal, shall not remand the case to a lower court but shall rule on the merits, sitting as a full court.
ARTICLE 178-1: However, in the case of appeals from temporary restraining orders or orders of examining magistrates, grants of appeal pronounced in connection with such orders or from final sentences of the Peace Courts or decisions of special courts, the Supreme Court, admitting the appeal, shall pronounce a decision without remanding the case.
ARTICLE 179: The duties of a judge are incompatible with any other salaried duties, except for education.
ARTICLE 180: Court proceedings are public. However, they may take place in closed session in the interest of public order and good morals, at the decision of the Court.
ARTICLE 180-1: Sentences may not be delivered in closed session in cases of political offenses or offenses involving the press.
ARTICLE 181: All order or judgments shall state the grounds for the decision and shall be handed down in a public hearing.
ARTICLE 181-1: Orders or judgments are delivered and executed in the name of the Republic, They shall include writs of execution to officers of the Public Prosecutor's Office and agents of the police and armed forces. Acts of notaries shall be put in the same form when their compulsory execution is involved.
ARTICLE 182: The Supreme Court rules on both fact and law in all cases of decisions handed down by military courts.
ARTICLE 183:
When litigation is referred to it, the Supreme Court, sitting as a full Court, shall rule on the unconstitutionality of the laws.
ARTICLE 183-1: The interpretation of a law given by the Houses of the Legislature shall be imposed for the purpose of that law without retroactively taking away any rights acquired by res judicata.
ARTICLE 183-2: The Courts shall apply Government decrees and regulations only insofar as they are in conformity with the law.
ARTICLE 184: The law determines the jurisdiction of the courts and tribunals, and regulates the manner of preceedings before them.
ARTICLE 184-1: The law also provides for disciplinary penalties to be taken against judges and officers of the Public Prosecutor's Office, except for Supreme Court Justices, who are under the jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice for abuse of authority.
CHAPTER V The High Court of Justice
ARTICLE 185: The Senate may constitute itself as a High Court of Justice. the proceedings of this Court are presided over by the President of the Senate, assisted by the President and Vice President of the Supreme Court as Vice President and Secretary, respectively, except where the Justices of the Supreme Court and officers of the public Prosecutor's Office assigned to that court are involved in the accusation, in which case, the Senators, one of whom shall be designated by the accused, and the Senators so appointed shall not be entitled to vote.
ARTICLE 186: The House of Deputies, by a majority of two-thirds (2/3) of its members, shall indict:
a. The President of the Republic for the crime of high treason or any other crime or offense committed in the discharge of his duties;
b. The Prime Minister, the Ministers and the Secretaries of State for Crimes of high treason and embezzlement or abuse of power or any other crimes or offenses committed in the discharge of their duties;
c. Members of the Permanent Electoral Council and the Superior Court of Auditors and the Court of Administrative Disputes for serious offenses committed in the discharge of their duties;
d. Supreme Court justices and officer of the Public Prosecutor's Office before the Court for abuse of authority;
e. The Protector of Citizens (Protecteur du citoyen).
ARTICLE 187: Members of the High Court of Justice serve on an individual bases, and no opening proceedings, take the following oath;
"I swear before God and before the Nation to judge with the impartiality and the firmness appropriate to an honest and free man, according to my conscience and my deep-seated conviction".
ARTICLE 188: The High Court of Justice shall designate, by secret ballot and an absolute majority of votes, from among its members a Committee of Enquiry.
ARTICLE 188-1: The decision in the form of a decree shall be handed down on the report of the Committee of Enquiry by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the members of the High Court of Justice.
ARTICLE 189: The High Court of Justice shall not sit unless a majority of two-thirds (2/3) of its members are present.
ARTICLE 189-1: The Court may not impose any other penalties than dismissal, disqualification or deprivation of the right or exercise any public office for no less than five (5) years and no more than fifteen (15) years.
ARTICLE 189-2: However, the convicted person may be brought before ordinary courts, in accordance with the law, if there is reason to impose other penalties or to rule on the institution of civil action.
ARTICLE 190: Once a case is brought before the High Court of Justice, the Court must sit until it renders its verdict, regardless of the length of the sessions of the Legislature.
TITLE VI Independent Institutions
CHAPTER I The Permanent Electoral Council
ARTICLE 191: The Permanent Electoral Council is responsible for organizing and controlling with complete independence all electoral procedures throughout the territory of the Republic until the results of the election are announced.
ARTICLE 191-1: The Council also drafts the Electoral Bill that it submits to the Executive Branch for the necessary purposes.
ARTICLE 191-2: The Council sees to it that the electoral lists are kept up-to-date.
ARTICLE 192: The Permanent Electoral Council consists of nine (9) members chosen from a list of three (3) names proposed by each of the Departmental Assemblies:
3 are chosen by the Executive Branch;
3 are chosen by the Supreme Court;
3 are chosen by the National Assembly.
The above-mentioned organs see to it as far as possible that each of the Departments are represented.
ARTICLE 193: Members of the Permanent Electoral Council must:
1. Be native-born Haitians;
2. Have attained forty (40) years of age;
3. Enjoy civil and political rights and never have been sentenced to death, personal constraint or penal servitude or the loss of civil rights;
4. Have been relieved of their responsibilities if they have been handling public funds;
5. Have resided in the country at least three (3) years before their nomination.
ARTICLE 194: Members of the Permanent Electoral Council are appointed for a nine (9) year nonrenovable period. They may not be removed from office.
ARTICLE 194-1: One-third of the members of the Permanent Electoral Council are replaced every three (3) years. The President is chosen form among its members.
ARTICLE 194-2: Before taking office, the members of the Permanent Electoral Council take the following oath before the Supreme Court;
"I swear to respect the Constitution and the provisions of the Electoral Law and to discharge my duties with dignity, independence, impartiality and patriotism."
ARTICLE 195: In the event of a serious offense committed in the discharge of their duties, the members of the Permanent Electoral Council are liable for prosecution before the High Court of Justice.
ARTICLE 195-1: The seat of the Permanent electoral Council is in the capital. Its jurisdiction extends throughout the territory of the Republic.
ARTICLE 196:
Members of the Permanent electoral Council may not hold any other public post, nor may they be a candidate of an elective post during their term.
In the event of dismissal, a member of the Council must wait three (3) years before he may run for an elective post.
ARTICLE 197: The Permanent Electoral Council shall rule on all disputes arising either in elections or in the enforcement or the violation of the Electoral Law, subject to any legal prosecution undertaken against an offender or offenders before the courts of competent jurisdiction.
ARTICLE 198: In the event of a vacancy caused by a depth, resignation or any other reason, the member shall be replaced following the procedure established in article 192 for the remainder of his term, taking into account the branch of government that had designated the member to be replaced.
ARTICLE 199: The law determines the rules for organization and operation of the Permanent Electoral Council
CHAPTER II The Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes
ARTICLE 200: The Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes is an independent and autonomous financial and administrative court. It is responsible for administrative and jurisdictional control of Government receipts and expenditures, verification of the accounts of the Government enterprises and of the territorial divisions.
ARTICLE 200-1: The Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes hears cases against the State and the territorial divisions, the Administration and Government officials, public services and citizens.
ARTICLE 200-2: Its decisions ate not subject to appeal, except to the Supreme Court.
ARTICLE 200-3: the Supreme Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes comprises two (2) sections:
1. The Financial Control Section
2. The Administrative Disputes Section.
ARTICLE 200-4: The Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes participates in drawing up the budget and is consulted on all matters concerning legislation on public finances and on all draft financial or commercial contracts, agreements
and conventions to which the State is a party. It has the right to conduct audits in all Government agencies.
ARTICLE 200-5: Members of the Superior Court of auditors and Administrative Disputes must:
a. Be Haitians and never have renounced their nationality;
b. Have attained thirty-five (35) years of age;
c. Have been relieved of their responsibilities of they have been handling public funds;
d. Have a Bachelor of Law degree, be a certified public accountant or hold an advanced degree in government administration, economics or public finance;
e. Have five (5) years experience in public or private administration;
f. Enjoy civil and political rights.
ARTICLE 200-6: Candidates for membership on the Court shall submit their applications directly to the Office of the Senate of the Republic. The Senate elects the ten (10) members of the Court, who select the Court's President and Vice President form among them.
ARTICLE 201: Court members have a ten (10) year term and may not be removed
ARTICLE 202: Before taking office, the members of the Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative disputes shall take the following oath before a section of the Supreme Court:
"I swear to respect the Constitution and the laws of the Republic, to discharge my duties properly and loyally and to conduct myself at all times with dignity".
ARTICLE 203: Members of the Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes are under the jurisdiction of the High Court of Justice for any serious offenses committed in the discharge of their duties.
ARTICLE 204: The Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes shall submit each year to the Legislature within thirty (30) days following the opening of the first legislative session a complete report on the country's financial situation and on the efficacy of Government expenditures.
ARTICLE 205: The organization of the above-mentioned court, its membership regulations and its mode of operation are established by law.
CHAPTER III The Conciliation Comission
ARTICLE 206: The Conciliation Commission is responsible for settling disputes between the Executive Branch and the Legislature and the two (2) Houses of the Legislature. Its members are as follows:
a. The President of the Supreme Court - President;
b. The President of the Senate - Vice President;
c. The President of the House of Deputies - Member;
d. The President of the Permanent Electoral Council - Member;
e . The Vice President of the Permanent electoral Council - Member;
f. Two (2) members designated by the President of the Republic - Member.
ARTICLE 206-1: The mode of operation of the Conciliation Commission is determined by law.
CHAPTER IV Protection of Citizens
ARTICLE 207: An office known as the OFFICE OF CITIZEN PROTECTION is established to protect all individuals against any form of abuse by the government.
ARTICLE 207-1: The office is directed by a citizen bearing the title of PROTECTOR OF CITIZENS. He is chosen by consensus of the President of the Republic, the President of the Senate and the President of the House of Deputies. His term is seven (7) years and may not be renewed.
ARTICLE 207-2: His intervention on behalf of any complainant is without charge, whatever the court having jurisdiction might be.
ARTICLE 207-3: A law sets the conditions and regulations for the operation of the Office of Citizen Protection.
CHAPTER V The UniversityY - The Academy - Culture
ARTICLE 208: Higher education is free. it is provided by the University of the Haitian State (Univertité d'État d'Haiti), which is autonomous and by the superior public schools and the superior private schools accredited by the State.
ARTICLE 209:
The State must finance the operation and development of the Haitian State University and the public superior schools. Their organization and their location must be planned from the perspective of regional development.
ARTICLE 210: The Establishment of research centers must be encouraged.
ARTICLE 211: Authorization for operation of universities and private superiors schools is subject to the technical approval of the Council of the State University, to a majority of Haitian participation in the capital and faculty, and to the obligation to teach primarily in the official language of the country.
ARTICLE 211-1: The universities and the private and public superior schools provide academic and practical instruction adapted to the trends and requirements of national development.
ARTICLE 212: An organic law regulates the establishment, location and operation of university and public and private superior schools in the country.
ARTICLE 213: A Haitian Academy shall be established to standardize the Creole language and enable it to develop scientifically and harmoniously.
ARTICLE 213-1: Other academies may be established.
ARTICLE 214: The title Academy Member is purely honorific.
ARTICLE 214-1: The law shall determine the mode of organization and operation of academies.
ARTICLE 215: Archaeolical, historical, cultural, folklore and architectural treasures in the country, which bear witness to the grandeur of our past. are part of the national heritage. Consequently, monuments, ruins, sites of our ancestors' great feats of arms, famous centers of our African beliefs, and all vestiges of the past are placed under the protection of the State.
ARTICLE 216: The law determines special conditions for this protection in each sphere.
TITLE VII PUBLIC FINANCE
ARTICLE 217: The finances of the Republic are decentralized. Financial management is the responsibility of the Minister concerned. The Executive, assisted by an Interdepartmental Council, draws up the law that sets the portion and nature of public revenue allotted to the territorial divisions.
ARTICLE 218: No Government levy may be established except by law. No charge or tax, whether imposed by a Department, a Municipality, or Communal Section, may be established without the consent of its territorial divisions.
ARTICLE 219:
No preferential tax treatment may be established.
No tax exemption, increase, decrease or elimination may be established except by law.
ARTICLE 220: No pension, bonus, allotment or subsidy charged to the Public Treasury may be authorized unless provided by law. Pensions paid by the State are indexed to the cost of living.
ARTICLE 221: Subject to special provisions thereon, the holding of two or more salaried public offices at the same time is strictly forbidden, except posts in education.
ARTICLE 222: Procedures for preparation of the budget and its execution are determined by law.
ARTICLE 223: Enforcement of the Law on the Budget and on Public Accounts is monitored by the Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes and by the Budget Office.
ARTICLE 224: National monetary policy is set by the Central Bank jointly with the Minister of Economics and Finance.
ARTICLE 225: An autonomous public agency with legal personality and financial autonomy performs the functions of a Central Bank. Its regulations are determined by law.
ARTICLE 226: The Central Bank has exclusive authority to issue as legal tender throughout the territory of the Republic, paper money representing the monetary unit, and coins, according to the name, weight, description, amount and use set by law.
ARTICLE 227: The budget of each Ministry is divided into chapters and sections, and must be voted upon article by article.
ARTICLE 227-1: Amounts to be drawn on budget allocations may in no case exceed one-twelfth of the appropriations for a particular month, except in December, because of bonuses paid to all Government employees and officials.
ARTICLE 227-2: General accounts of receipts and expenditures of the Republic shall be kept by the Minister of Finance according to an accounting method established by law.
ARTICLE 227-3: The General accounts and budgets stipulated in the receding article, accompanied by a report from the Superior Court of Auditors and Administrative Disputes must be submitted to the Legislative Houses by the Minister of Finance no later than fifteen (15) days after the opening of the legislative session. The same applies to the annual balance sheet and statement of operations of the Central Bank and to all other accounts of the Haitian State.
ARTICLE 227-4:
The Government fiscal year begins on October 1 of each year and ends on September 30 of the following year.
ARTICLE 228: Each year the Legislature issues:
a. The statement of receipts and expenditures of the Government for the preceding year, or years;
b. The Government General Budget containing the rough estimates and the portion of funds allocated to each Ministry of the year.
ARTICLE 228-1: However, no proposal or amendment may be introduced into the Budget when it is being voted upon, without provision of the ways and means therefore.
ARTICLE 228-2: No increase or reduction may be made in the allocation of Government funds, except by amendment of the laws relating thereto.
ARTICLE 229: The Legislative Houses may refrain from doing any legislative work until the above documents are submitted to it. They shall refuse to grant the Ministers discharge when the accounts submitted do not in themselves, or by supporting documents, provide the necessary data for verification and evaluation.
ARTICLE 230: Examination and payment of the General Administration Accounts and all accounts of public funds are effected according to the method established by law.
ARTICLE 231: If for any reason whatever the Legislative Houses do not act upon the budget for one or more Ministerial Departments before they adjourn, the budget or budgets of the Departments concerned shall remain in force until a new budget is voted on and adopted.
ARTICLE 231-1: In the event that, through fault of the Executive Branch, the Budget of the Republic has not been voted upon, the President of the Republic shall immediately call a special session of the Legislative Houses for the sole purpose of voting on the Government budget.
ARTICLE 232: Autonomous agencies and enterprises and entities subsidized wholly or in part by the Public Treasury shall be governed by special budgets and salary and wage systems approved by the Executive Branch.
ARTICLE 233: For the purpose of maintaining constant and careful supervision over Government expenditures, a fifteen-ember Parliamentary Committee with nine (9) Deputies and six (6) Senators shall be elected by secret ballot at the beginning of each regular session, to report on the management Ministers, in order to enable the two (2) Assemblies to give them discharge.
This Committee may engage the services of specialists to assist it with its monitoring functions.
TITLE VIII The Civil Service ARTICLE 234:
The Haitian Civil Service is the instrument by which the State carries out its missions and achieves its objectives. To ensure its viability, it must be managed honestly and efficiently.
ARTICLE 235: Government employees and officials shall be exclusively in the service of the State. It is their duty to abide faithfully by the norms and ethics determined by law for civil servants.
ARTICLE 236: The law establishes the organization of the various Government structures and stipulates the conditions for their operation.
ARTICLE 236-1: The law shall regulate the civil service on the basis of aptitude, merit and conduct. It shall guarantee security of employment.
ARTICLE 236-2: The civil service is a career. No official may be hired except by competition or by meeting other conditions prescribed by the Constitution and by law, nor may he be dismissed except for causes specifically determined by law. Dismissals must in all cases be ruled upon by the Court of Administrative Disputes.
ARTICLE 237: Career service officials are not members of any particular Government agency but are members of the civil service, which makes them available to the various Government agencies.
ARTICLE 238: Officials indicated by law have the obligation to declare the status of their net worth to the Clerk of the Civil Court within thirty (30) days following their entry into service. The Government Auditor must take every step he deems necessary to verify the accuracy of the declaration.
ARTICLE 239: Government employees and officials may form associations to defend their rights under the conditions established by law.
ARTICLE 240: Holders of public office or positions, particularly Ministers and Secretaries of State, officers of the Public Prosecutor's Office, Delegates and Vice Delegates, ambassadors, private secretaries of the President of the Republic, members of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Director Generals of the Ministerial Department of autonomous agencies, and members of the Administrative Council are not eligible for the Government career service.
ARTICLE 241:
The law punishes violations committed against the treasury and unjust gain. Officials who have knowledge of such actions have the duty to report them to the competent authorities.
ARTICLE 242: Unjust gain may be determined by all types of evidence, particularly presumption of a sharp disproportion between the official's means acquired after his entry into service and the accumulated amount of salaries and emoluments to which the post he has occupied entitles him.
ARTICLE 243: Officials guilty of the above offenses are entitled to only the twenty-year statute of limitation. This limitation period begins to run with the termination of their duties or the causes that would have prevented any prosecution.
ARTICLE 244: The State has the duty to avoid major salary disparities in the civil service.
TITLE XI CHAPTER I
Economics and Agriculture ARTICLE 245:
Economic freedom shall be guaranteed so long as it is not contrary to the public interest.
The State shall protect private enterprises and shall endeavor to see that it develops under the conditions necessary to increase the national wealth in such a way as to ensure the participation of the largest possible number of persons in the benefits of this wealth.
ARTICLE 246: The State encourages in rural and urban areas the formation of cooperatives for production, processing of raw materials and the entrepenurial spirit to promote the accumulation of national capital to ensure continuous development.
ARTICLE 247: Agriculture, which is the main source of the Nation's wealth, is a guarantee of the well-being of the people and the socio-economic progress of the Nation.
ARTICLE 248: A special agency to be known as THE NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF AGRARIAN REFORM shall be established to organize the revision of real property structures and to implement an agrarian reform to benefit those who actually work the land. This Institute shall draw up an agrarian policy geared to optimizing productivity by constructing infrastructure aimed at the protection and management of the land.
ARTICLE 248-1: The law determines the minimum and maximum area of basic farm units.
ARTICLE 249: The State has the obligation to establish the structures necessary to ensure maximum productivity of the land and domestic marketing of foodstuffs. Technical and financial management units shall be established to assist farmers at the level of each Communal section.
ARTICLE 250: No monopoly may be established to benefit the State and the territorial divisions except in the exclusive interest of society as a whole. Such a monopoly may not be granted to any private individual.
ARTICLE 251: The import of foodstuffs and their byproducts that are produced in sufficient quantity in the national territory is forbidden, except in the event of force majeure.
ARTICLE 252: the State may take charge of the operation of enterprises for the production of goods and services essential to the community in order to ensure continuity in the event the existence of these establishments should be threatened. Such enterprises shall be grouped in a comprehensive management system.
CHAPTER II The Environment
ARTICLE 253: Since the environment is the natural framework of the life of the people, any practices that might disturb the ecological balance are strictly forbidden.
ARTICLE 254: the State shall organize the enhancement of natural sites to ensure their protection and make them accessible to all.
ARTICLE 255: To protect forest reserves and expand the plant coverage, the State encourages the development of local sources of energy: solar, wind and others.
ARTICLE 256: Within the framework of protecting the environment and public education, the State has the obligation to proceed to establish and maintain botanical and zoological gardens at certain points in its territory.
ARTICLE 257: The law specifies the conditions for protecting flora and fauna, and punishes violations thereof.
ARTICLE 258: No one may introduce into the country wates or residues of any kind from foreign sources.
TITLE X The Family
ARTICLE 259: The State protects the family, which is the foundation of society.
ARTICLE 260: It must also protect all families regardless of whether they are constituted within the bonds of marriage. It must endeavor to aid and assist mothers, children and the aged.
ARTICLE 261: The law ensures protection for all children. Any child is entitled to love, affection, understanding and moral and physical care grow its father and mother.
ARTICLE 262:
A family Code must be drawn up to ensure protection and respect for the rights of the family and to define procedures of the search for affiliation. Courts and other Government agencies charged with the protection of these rights must be accessible free of charge at the level of the smallest territorial division.
TITLE XI The Armed Forces and the Police Force
ARTICLE 263: The "Public Forces "la Force Publique) are composed of two (2) distinct bodies:
a. The Armed Forces of Haiti, and
b. The Police Forces.
ARTICLE 263-1: No other armed corps may exist in the national territory.
ARTICLE 263-2: All members of the police and armed forces shall take an oath of allegiance and respect for the Constitution and the flag at the time of their enlistment.
CHAPTER I The Armed Forces
ARTICLE 264: The armed Forces comprise the Land, Sea and Air Forces and the Technical Services.
The Haitian Armed Forces are set up to ensure the security and integrity of the territory of the Republic.
ARTICLE 264-1: The Armed Forces are in practice commanded by a general officer bearing the TITLE COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE HAITIAN ARMED FORCES.
ARTICLE 264-2: The Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces, pursuant to the Constitution, is chosen from among the general officers on active service.
ARTICLE 264-3: His term is set at three (3) years and is renewable.
ARTICLE 265: The Armed Forces are apolitical. Their members may not be part of any political group or party, and they must observe the strictest neutrality.
ARTICLE 265-1: Members of the Armed Forces exercise their right to vote, under the Constitution.
ARTICLE 266: The duties of the Armed Forces are:
a. Defend the country in the event of war;
b. Protect the country against threats from abroad;
c. See to surveillance of the land, sea and air boundaries;
d. At the well-founded request of the Executive, they may land assistance to the police when the latter are unable to handle a situation;
e. Assist the Nation in the event of a natural disaster;
f. In addition to their regular duties, the Armed Forces may be assigned to development work.
ARTICLE 267: Military personnel on active duty may not be appointed to any Government post, except temporarily to perform a specialized service.
ARTICLE 267-1: To be a candidate for an elective post, all military personnel on active duty must be laced on inactive service or on entirement one (1) year before publication of the electoral decree.
ARTICLE 267-2: The military career is a profession. Its ranking, terms of enlistment, ranks, promotions, discharges, and retirement are determined by the regulations of the Haitian Armed Forces.
ARTICLE 267-3: Military personnel are under the jurisdiction of a military court only for offenses and crimes committed in wartime or for violations of military discipline.
They may not be discharged, placed on inactive service, placed on half pay, or retired early except with their consent. If such consent is not given, the party concerned may lodge an appeal with the court of competent jurisdiction.
ARTICLE 267-4: Military personnel retain for life the last rank obtained in the Haitian Armed Forces. They may be deprived of their rank only by a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction.
ARTICLE 267-5: The State must award benefits to military personnel of all ranks, fully guaranteeing their physical security.
ARTICLE 268: Within the framework of compulsory civilian national services for both sexes, provided for by article 52-3 of the Constitution, the Armed Forces participate in organizing and supervising that service.
Military service is compulsory for all Haitians who have attained eighteen (18) years of age.
The law sets the method of recruitment, and the length and regulations for the performance of these services.
ARTICLE 268-1: Every citizen has the right to armed self defense, within the bounds of this domicile, but has no right to bear arms without express well-founded authorization from the Chief of Police.
ARTICLE 268-2: Possession of a firearm must be reported to the police.
ARTICLE 268-3: The Armed Forces have a monopoly on the manufacture, import, export, use and possession of weapon of war and their munitions, as well as war material.
CHAPTER II The Police Forces
ARTICLE 269: The Police Force is an armed body.
It operates under the Ministry of Justice.
ARTICLE 269-1: It is established to ensure law and order and protect the life and property of citizens.
Its organization and mode of operation are regulated by law.
ARTICLE 270: The Commander in Chief of the Police Forces is appointed, in accordance with the Constitution, for a three (3) year term, which is renewable.
ARTICLE 271: An Academy and a Police School have been established, whose organization and operations are set by law.
ARTICLE 272: Specialized sections, particularly the Penitentiary Administration, the Firemen's Service, the Traffic Police, the Highway Police, Criminal Investigations, the Narcotics Service and the Anti-Smuggling Service, have been established by the law governing the organization, operation and location of the Police Forces.
ARTICLE 273: The police, as an auxiliary of the Justice System, investigate violations, offenses and crimes committed, in order to discover and arrest the perpetrators of them.
ARTICLE 274: In the exercise of their duties, members of the "Public Forces" are subject to civil and penal liability in the manner and under the conditions stipulated by the Constitution and by law.
CHAPTER XII General Provisions
ARTICLE 275: National and legal holidays shall be celebrated by the Government and private and commercial enterprises.
ARTICLE 275-1:
The national holidays are:
1. Independence Day, January 1;
2. Heroes' Day, january 2;
3. Agriculture and Labor Day, May 1;
4. Flag Day and University Day, may 18; and
5. Battle of Vertières'õ Day, which is also ARMED FORCES DAY, November 18.
ARTICLE 275-2: Legal holidays shall be determined by law.
ARTICLE 276: The National Assembly may not ratify any international treaty, convention or agreement containing clauses contrary to this Constitution.
ARTICLE 276-1: International treaties, conventions and agreements are ratified in the form of a decree.
ARTICLE 276-2: Once international treaties or agreements are approved and ratified in the manner stipulated by the Constitution, they become part of the legislation of the country and abrogate any laws in conflict with them.
ARTICLE 277: The Haitian State may join an Economic Community of States insofar as the association agreement stimulates the social and economic development of the Haitian Republic and does not contain any clause contrary to this Constitution.
ARTICLE 278: No place or part of the territory may be declared in a state of siege except in the event of civil war or invasion by a foreign force.
ARTICLE 278-1: The act of the President of the Republic declaring a state of siege must be countersigned by the Prime Minister and by all of the Ministers and contain an immediate convocation of the National Assembly to decide on the desirability of the measure.
ARTICLE 278-2: The National Assembly decides with the Executive Branch as to what constitutional guarantees may be suspended in the pàrts of the territory placed under a state of siege.
ARTICLE 278-3: The state of siege is lifted if it is not renewed by a vote of the National Assembly every fifteen (15) days after its entry into force.
ARTICLE 278-4: The National Assembly shall be in session for the entire duration of the state of siege.
ARTICLE 279: Thirty (30) days after his election, the President of the Republic must deposit with the Clerk of the Court of First Instance of his domicile a notarized inventory of all his movable and immovable goods, and he shall do the same at the end of his term.
ARTICLE 279-1: The Prime Minister, the Ministers and Secretaries of State are subject to the same obligation within thirty (30) days of their installation and of the termination of their duties.
ARTICLE 280: No general expenditures or compensation whatever shall be granted to members of the major organs of the State for any special duties that may be assigned to them.
ARTICLE 281: In national elections, the State assumes responsibility, in proportion to the number of votes cast, for a portion of the expenses incurred in the election campaigns.
ARTICLE 281-1: Only parties that obtain nationally ten percent (10%) of the votes cast, with a minimum of five percent (5%) of the votes cast in one Department, are eligible to receive these Government funds.
TITLE XIII Amendments to the Constitution
ARTICLE 282: On the recommendation, with reason given to support it, of one of the two (2) Houses or of the Executive Branch, the Legislature may declare that the Constitution should be amended.
ARTICLE 281-1: This declaration must be supported by two-thirds (2/3) of each of the two (2) Houses. It may made only in the course of the last Regular Session of the Legislative period and shall be published immediately throughout the territory.
ARTICLE 283: At the first session of the following legislature period, the Houses shall meet in a National Assembly and decide on the proposed amendment.
ARTICLE 284: The National Assembly may not sit or deliberate on the amendment unless at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members of each of the two (2) Houses are present.
ARTICLE 284-1: No decision of the National Assembly may be taken without a majority of two- thirds (2/3) of the votes cast.
ARTICLE 284-2: The amendment passed may enter into effect only after installation of the next elected President. In no case may the President under the Government that approved the amendment benefit from any advantages deriving therefrom.
ARTICLE 284-3: General elections to amend the Constitution by referendum are strictly forbidden.
ARTICLE 284-4: No amendment to the Constitution may effect the democratic and republican nature of the State.
TITLE XIV Temporary Provisions
ARTICLE 285: The National Council of Government shall remain in operation up to February 7,1988, the date of the investiture of the President of the Republic elected under this Constitution, in accordance with the electoral timetable.
ARTICLE 285-1: The National Council of Government is authorized to issue in the Council of Ministers, pursuant to the Constitution, decrees having the force of law until the Deputies and Senators elected under this Constitution take up their duties.
ARTICLE 286: Every Haitian who has adopted a foreign nationality during the twenty-nine (29) years prior to February 7, 1986, may, by a declaration made to the Ministry of Justice within two (2) years after publication of the Constitution, recover his Haitian nationality with the advantages deriving therefrom, in accordance with the law.
ARTICLE 287: In light of the situation of Haitians that have become expatriates voluntarily or involuntarily the deadlines for residence stipulated in this Constitution are extended for a full year for the next elections.
ARTICLE 288: When the next elections are held, the term of the three (3) Senators elected for each Department shall be established as follows:
a. The Senator who has received the largest number of votes shall have a term of six (6) years;
b. The Senator receiving the second largest number of votes shall have a term of four (4) years;
c. The Senator in third place shall be elected for two (2) years.
Following this each elected Senator shall have a term of six (6) years.
ARTICLE 289: Awaiting the establishment of the Permanent Electoral Council provided for in this Constitution, the National Council of Government shall set up a Provisional Electoral Council of nine (9) members, charged with drawing up and enforcing the Electoral Law to govern the next elections, who shall be designated as follows:
1. One for the Executive Branch, who is not an official;
2. One for the Episcopal Conference;
3. One for the Advisory Council;
4. One for the Supreme Court;
5. One for agencies defending human rights, who may not be a candidate in the elections;
6. One for the Council of the University;
7. One for the Journalists Association;
8. One for the Protestant religions;
9. One for the National Council of Cooperatives.
ARTICLE 289-1: Within two weeks following ratification of this Constitution, the bodies or organizations concerned shall inform the Executive of the name of their representative.
ARTICLE 289-2: If any of the above bodies or organizations does not appoint a member, the Executive shall fill the vacancy or vacancies.
ARTICLE 289-3: The mission of the Provisional Electoral Council shall end when the President- elect takes office.
ARTICLE 290: The members of the first Permanent Electoral Council shall divide among them by lot the terms of nine (9), six (6), and three (3) years, stipulated for replacement of the Council by thirds (1/3).
ARTICLE 291: For ten (10) years following publication of this Constitution, and without prejudice to any criminal action or civil suit for damages, none of the following may be candidates for any public office;
a. Any person well known for having been by his excess zeal one of the architects of the dictatorship and of its maintenance during the last twenty-nine (29) years;
b. Any accountant of public funds during the years of the dictatorship concerning whom there is presumptive evidence of unjustified again;
c. Any person denounced by public outcry for having inflicted torture on political prisoners or for having committed political assassinations.
ARTICLE 292: The Provisional Electoral Council charged with receiving the registration of candidates, shall see to the strict enforcement of this provision.
ARTICLE 293: All decrees expropriating real property in urban and rural areas of the Republic of the last two (2) Haitian governments for the benefit of the State or companies in the course of incorporation shall be annulled if the purpose for which such actions were taken has not been attained during the last 10 years.
ARTICLE 293-1: Any individual who was the victim of confiscation of property or arbitrary dispossession for political reasons during the period from october 22, 1957 to February 7,1986 may recover his property before the court of competent jurisdiction.
In such cases, the procedure shall be expedited as for emergency matters, and the decision may be appealed only to the Supreme Court.
ARTICLE 294: Sentences to death personal restraint or penal service or the loss of civil rights for political reasons from 1957 to 1986 shall constitute no impediment to the exercise of civil and political rights.
ARTICLE 295: Within six (6) months starting from the time the first President elected under the Constitution of 1987 takes office, the Executive Branch is authorized to proceed to carry out any reforms deemed necessary in the Government Administration in general and in the Judiciary.
TITLE XV Final Provisions ARTICLE 296:
All Codes of Law or Handbooks of Justice, all laws, all decree laws and all decrees and orders (Arrêtés) currently in force shall be maintained in all matters not contrary to this Constitution.
ARTICLE 297: All laws, all decree laws, all decrees arbitrarily limiting the basic rights and liberties of citizens, in particular:
a. The decree law of September 5, 1935 on supertitious beliefs;
b. The law of August 2, 1977 establishing the Court of State Security (Tribunal de la Sureté de l'État).
c. The law of July 28, 1975 placing the lands of the Artibonite Valley in a special status;
d. The law of April 29, 1969 condemning all imported doctrines;
Are and shall remain repealed.
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ARTICLE 298: This Constitution shall be published within two weeks of its ratification by referendum. It shall enter into force as soon as it is published in the MONITEUR, the Official Gazette of the Republic.
Given at the Legislative Palace, in Port-au-Prince, the seat of the Constituent National Assembly, on March 10, 1987, in the One Hundred Eighty-Fourth Year of Independence.
Source / Fuente: Unofficial English translation provided by the Government of Haiti. Original published in the Official Gazette of the Republic, Au Moniteur.