Constitution of Costa Rica

Constitution of Costa Rica Republic
Overview
JurisdictionRepublic of Costa Rica
Created7 November 1949
SystemPresidential unitary republic
Government structure
Branches4
ChambersUnicameral
ExecutivePresident
JudiciarySupreme and Electoral
History
First legislature8 November 1949
First executive8 November 1949
Amendments17
Last amended2015
LocationNational Museum of Costa Rica
Commissioned byGoverning Junta
Author(s)Constituent Assembly of Costa Rica
SignatoriesAll 45 deputies
SupersedesCosta Rican Constitution of 1871

The Constitution of Costa Rica is the supreme law of Costa Rica. At the end of the 1948 Costa Rican Civil War, José Figueres Ferrer oversaw the Costa Rican Constitutional Assembly, which drafted the document. It was approved on 1949 November 7. Several older constitutions had been in effect starting from 1812, with the most recent former constitution ratified in 1871. The Costa Rican Constitution is remarkable in that in its Article 12 abolished the Costa Rican military, making it the second nation after Japan to do so by law. Another unusual clause is an amendment asserting the right to live in a healthy natural environment.