Constitution of Ireland

Constitution of Ireland
Overview
Original titleBunreacht na hÉireann
JurisdictionRepublic of Ireland
Ratified1 July 1937
Date effective29 December 1937; 86 years ago (1937-12-29)
SystemUnitary parliamentary republic
Government structure
Branches
Head of statePresident of Ireland
ChambersBicameral (Dáil Éireann and Seanad Éireann)
ExecutiveGovernment of Ireland
Judiciary
History
Amendments32
Last amended11 June 2019; 5 years ago (2019-06-11)
CitationConstitution of Ireland
SupersedesConstitution of the Irish Free State
Full text
Constitution of Ireland (consolidated text) at Wikisource

The Constitution of Ireland (Irish: Bunreacht na hÉireann, pronounced [ˈbˠʊnˠɾˠəxt̪ˠ n̪ˠə ˈheːɾʲən̪ˠ]) is the fundamental law of Ireland. It asserts the national sovereignty of the Irish people. It guarantees certain fundamental rights, along with a popularly elected non-executive president, a bicameral parliament, a separation of powers and judicial review.

It is the second constitution of the Irish state since independence, replacing the 1922 Constitution of the Irish Free State.[1] It came into force on 29 December 1937 following a statewide plebiscite held on 1 July 1937. The Constitution may be amended solely by a national referendum.[2] It is the longest continually operating republican constitution within the European Union.[3]

  1. ^ "Constitution of Ireland Bunreacht Na hÉireann". The All-Party Oireachtas Committee on the Constitution. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 24 August 2008.
  2. ^ Article 46(2)
  3. ^ Marie-Luce Paris 'Popular Sovereignty and the Use of the Referendum – Comparative Perspectives with Reference to France', University College Dublin, 2012