Constitutional Amendment Declaration
After reviewing the constitutional declaration issued in 13th February 2011,
And results of the referendum on the constitutional amendments of 19th
March 2011, where were announced in 20th March 2011,and in consideration of the statement issued by the Supreme Council of Armed Forces in 23rd March 2011, The Supreme Council of Armed Forces has decreed the following;
(Article 1)
The Arab Republic of Egypt is a democratic state based on citizenship. The
Egyptian people are part of the Arab nation and work for the realization of
its comprehensive unity.
(Article 2)
Islam is the religion of the state and the Arabic language is its official
language. Principles of Islamic law (Shari’a) are the principal source of
legislation.
(Article 3)
Sovereignty is for the people alone and they are the source of authority.
The people shall exercise and protect this sovereignty, and safeguard the
national unity.
(Article 4)
Citizens have the right to establish associations, syndicates, federations,
and parties according to the law. It is forbidden to form associations
whose activities are opposed to the order of society or secret or of
militaristic nature. No political activity shall be exercised nor political
parties established on a religious referential authority, on a religious basis
or on discrimination on grounds of gender or origin.
(Article 5)
Public property is protected, and its defense and support is a duty
incumbent on every citizen, according to the law.
Private property is safeguard, and it is not permitted to impose
guardianship over it expect through means stated in law and by court
ruling.
Property cannot be seized expect for the public benefit and in exchange
for compensation according to the law, and the right inheritance is
guaranteed.
(Article 6)
Law applies equally to all citizens, and they are equal in rights and general
duties. They may not be discriminated against due to race, origin,
language, religion, or creed.
(Article 7)
Personal freedom is an natural right, safeguarded and inviolable, and
except in the case of being caught in the act of violation, it is not
permitted for anyone to be detained or searched or to be freedom
restricted, or movement prevented, except by a warrant order compelling
the necessity of investigation or to safeguard the security of society. This
warrant order shall be issued by a specialized judge or the general
prosecutor, according to the law. The law also determines the period for
which one may be detained.
(Article 8)
Every citizen who is arrested or detained must be treated in a way that
preserves his/her human dignity. It is forbidden to be abused psychically
or morally, and forbidden to be detained in places outside of those
designated by the prisons law. Any statement proven to be extracted from
a citizen under threat will not be counted.
(Article 9)
Homes are protected and it is not permitted to enter or search them
without a warrant according to the law.
(Article 10)
The life of citizens has special sanctity protected by law, as do messages
sent by post, fax, telephone, or other means of communications, where
secrecy is guaranteed. It is not permitted to confiscate, read or censor
them, except by court ruling and for a limited time, according to the law.
(Article 11)
The state guarantees the freedom of creed, and practicing religious rites.
(Article 12)
Freedom of opinion is guaranteed, and every person has the right to
express his opinion and publish it spoken, written, photographed, or other
form of expression within the law. Personal criticism and constructive
criticism are a guarantee for the safety of the national development.
(Article 13)
Freedom of the press, printing, publication and media are guaranteed, and
censorship is forbidden, as are giving ultimatums and stopping or
canceling publication from an administrative channel. Exception my be
made in the case of emergency or time of war, allowing limited censorship
of newspapers, publication and media on matters related to general safety
or the purposes of national security, all according to law.
(Article 14)
It is not permitted for any citizen to be denied residence in a particular
area, nor requiring him to reside in a particular place, except in cases
designated by law.
(Article 15)
It is not permitted to expel a citizen from the country or forbid him from
returning, or to give up political refugees.
(Article 16)
Citizens have the right or private assembly in peace without bearing arms
or need for prior notice. It is not permitted for security forces to attend
these private meetings. Public meetings, processions and gatherings are
permitted within confines of the law.
(Article 17)
Any attack on the personal freedom or sanctity of life of citizens or other
rights and general freedom guaranteed by the constitution and law is a
crime, which will be followed by a criminal or civil suit according to the
statute of limitations. The state guarantees fair compensation for whoever
experiences such an aggression.
(Article 18)
Public taxes will instituted and their amendment or cancellation will take
place by law. No one will be excluded from taxation except in cases stated
in law. It is not permitted for anyone to charge another pay taxes or fees
except within the bounds of law.
(Article 19)
Personal penalty. There will be no crime or penalty except according to
the law. Punishment will not take place except by judicial ruling, nor will
punishment occur for acts that take place before enactment of the
relevant law.
(Article 20)
The accused is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law that
guarantees for him defense. Every accused in a crime is required to have
an attorney to defend him.
(Article 21)
Litigation is a safeguarded and guaranteed right for all people, and every
citizen has the right to resort to his natural judge. The state guarantees
close association of judicial apparatuses with litigants, in addition to a
speedy trial of matters. The text of law forbids any action or
administrative decision from being absolved of judicial oversight.
(Article 22)
The right to defend one's self in person or by proxy is guaranteed. The law
guarantees those unable monetarily to defend themselves to resort to the
judiciary for means to defend their rights.
(Article 23)
Anyone arrested or detained will be notified of the reason for his
detestation immediately. He has the right to contact whomever he desires
and inform them of the arrest and seek help, according to the law. It is
necessary that accusations be announced with haste, and the detained
has the right to appeal in from of the judiciary to determine the
circumstances in which his personal freedom was suspended. The law
organizes the right to present a grievance in order to guarantee a decision
in a limited time period, or else the detainee's release is inevitably
released.
(Article 24)
Laws are issued and executed in the name of people. Suspension or
avoidance of their execution on the part of public employees is a crime
punishable by law. The plaintiff has the right to bring the criminal case
directly to a specialized court.
(Article 25)
The President of the State is the president of the republic. He shall assert
the sovereignty of the people, respect for the constitution and sovereignty
of the law, and defense of national unity and social justice, according to
means stipulated in this Announcement and the law.
He shall undertake upon assuming his position responsibilities referred to
in article 56 of this announcement, except for what is stipulated in
provisions 1 and 2 of the article.
(Article 26)
It is required for whoever is elected president of the republic to be an
Egyptian who has never held another citizenship, born of two Egyptian
parents who have never held another citizenship enjoying his political and
civil rights, not married to a non-Egyptian, and not falling under the age
of 40 years.
(Article 27)
The president will be elected directly by general secret ballot. To be
nominated for the presidency of the republic, a candidate must be
supported by 30 members at least of the elected members of the People's
Assembly and Shoura Council, or the candidate may be obtain the support
of at least 30,000 citizens, who have the right to vote, in at least 15
provinces whereby the number of supports in any of the provinces is at
least 1,000
In all cases, it is no permissible to support more than one candidate, and
the law will stipulate the procedures for this matter. Every political party
with members who have won at least one seat by way of election in either
of the People's Assembly or Shoura Council in the last elections may
nominate one of its members of the presidency.
(Article 28)
A supreme judicial commission named the "President Elections
Commission" will supervise the election of the president republic
beginning with the announcement of the opening of candidate nomination
and ending with the announcement of the election result.
The commission will be composed of the president of the Supreme
Constitutional Court as the head, and a membership made up on the
president of the Cairo Appeals Court, the most senior deputies of the
president of the Supreme Constitutional Court, the most senior deputies
of the president of the Court of Cassation and the most senior deputies of
the president of the State Council
The Commission's decisions will be final and carry the force law, and will
not subject to objections from any party, in the same manner as it is
forbidden for the decisions to be stopped or canceled. The purview of
Commission will be by law. The Commission will form committees to
supervise voting and counting according to the stipulations in article 39.
Draft legislation for presidential elections will be shown to the Supreme
Constitutional Court before being issued to determine the extent of
compliance with the constitution.
The Supreme Constitutional Court will issue its decision on this matter
within 15 days of receiving the draft legislation. If it decides that the text
is unconstitutional, more work must be done before the law can be issued.
In all cases, the decision of the Court will be obligatory for all authorities
of the state, and will be published in the official gazette within three days
of being releases.
(Article 29)
The period of presidency is four years beginning from the date of
announcing the result of the election, and the president of the republic
may no run for more than one additional presidential term.
(Article 30)
The president will take the following oath before the People's Assembly
before assuming his position " I swear to God that I will faithfully preserve
the republican order, that I will respect the constitution and the law, and
look after the interests of the people comprehensively, and that will
preserve the independence of the nation and the safety of its land"
(Article 31)
The president of the republic will appoint within a maximum of 30 days
after assuming his duties at least one vice president and determine his
responsibilities, so that in the case of his stepping down from the position
of the president, another will be appointed on his place. The conditions
that must be met by the president will apply, as will rules governing the
accountability for vice presidents of the republic.
(Article 32)
The People's Assembly Council will be composed of a number of members
determined by law to be at least 350, half of whom at least will be
Workers and Peasants. The members of the People's Assembly Council will
be elected by a direct, public and secret election. The law stipulates the
definition of a Worker and Peasant, as well as the electoral districts that
the state will be divided into. It is possible for the president of the republic
to appoint in the People's Assembly a number of the members, not to
exceed 10.
(Article 33)
Immediately upon election, the People's Assembly Council will assume the
authority to legislate and determine the public policy of the state, the
general plan for economic and social development, and the public budget
of the state. It will also oversee the work of the executive branch.
(Article 34)
Term of the People's Assembly Council will be five years starting from the
date of its first assembly.
(Article 35)
The Shoura Council will be composed of a number of members determined
by law no to be fewer than 132 members, two-thirds of whom will be
elected by direct, public and secret voting (at least half workers and half
peasants), and one-third of whom will be appointed by the president of
the republic.
The law determines the electoral districts for the Shoura Council.
(Article 36)
Term of the Shoura Council membership will be 6 years.
(Article 37)
The Shoura Council will assume its responsibilities upon election. It will
study and recommend what it views as necessary to preserve support for
national unity and social peace and protect the foundational elements of
society and its highest values, in addition to rights, freedoms and general
obligations. The Council will consider the following;
1- The project of general planning for economic and social
development
2- Draft laws referred by the president of the republic.
3- Whatever the president of the republic refer to the Council on
subjects related to the state's public policy or policies related to the
Arab and foreign affairs.
The council will notify the president and the People's Assembly Council of
its opinion on these matters.
(Article 38)
The law will govern the right of candidacy for the People's Assembly and
Shoura Councils according to the determined electoral system including at
a minimum the participation of women in both assemblies.
(Article 39)
The law determines the conditions that must be met for members of the
People's Assembly and Shoura Councils, stipulating electoral and
referenda provisions. A supreme commission made entirely of judges will
assume the responsibility of supervision elections of referenda, from the
determination of electoral schedules to the announcing of election results,
all as regulated by law. Voting and the counting of votes will take place
under their higher councils, and the decision in the process of choosing
them will undertaken by the supreme commission.
(Article 40)
The Court of Cassation will be designated to determine the integrity of the
membership of the People's Assembly and Shoura Councils, and
objections will be presented to the court within 30 days of the
announcement of elections results. The Court will rule on the objection
within 90 days of receiving it. The membership is considered void on the
date which the two assembles are informed of the Court's decision.
(Article 41)
Electoral procedures will being within months of the state of this
Announcement. The Shoura Council will assume its duties with elected
members, upon his election, the president of the republic will appoint the
final third of the Council's membership, who will serve out of the
remainder of the term of the Council as regulated by the law.
(Article 42)
Every member of the People's Assembly and Shoura Councils will swear to
conduct work in accordance with the following oath in front of his
legislative body " I swear to God that I will faithfully preserve the safety of
the nation and the republican order, that I will look after the interests of
the people and respect the constitution and the law"
(Article 43)
It is not permissible for any member of the People's Assembly or Shoura
Councils during his tenure to busy or rent anything using state money, or
to rent out or sell anything with said money, or barter with it or enter into
a contract with the state as an entrepreneur, importer, or contractor.
(Article 44)
It is not permissible to remove the membership of any members of the
People's Assembly or Shoura Councils unless he has lost confidence and
esteem, or any of the condition of membership, or his position as Worker
or Peasant based on which he was elected, or if he has breached any of
responsibilities of membership. A decision to remove membership must be
issued by a two-thirds majority of the respective assembly.
(Article 45)
It is not permissible in any case except that of flagrant violation to take
any criminal proceedings against a member of the People's Assembly or
Shoura Councils, except with prior permission from his assembly. In the
case of the assembly's recess, permission will be taken from the head of
the assembly and will be subsequently presented to the assembly upon
resumption of work.
(Article 46)
Judicial authority is independent and invested in courts of different
varieties and degrees. Rulings will be issued according to the law
(Article 47)
Judges are independent and not subjected to removal. The law regulates
disciplinary actions against them. There is no authority over them except
that of the law, and its not permissible for any authority to interfere in
their issues or matters of justice.
(Article 48)
The State Council is an independent judicial body that specializes in
adjudication of administrative disputes and disciplinary claims. The law
determines its other responsibilities.
(Article 49)
The Supreme Constitutional Court is an independent and autonomous
judicial body, uniquely tasked with judicial oversight over the
constitutionality of laws and regulations. It deals with the interpretations
of legislative texts, all as stipulated in the law. The law also designates
other responsibilities for the Court and regulates the procedures followed
in front of it.
(Article 50)
The law determines judicial bodies and their responsibilities and regulates
their formation, in addition to stipulating conditions and procedures for
appointing their members and their transfer.
(Article 51)
The law regulates the military judicial system and stipulates its
responsibilities in line with constitutional principles.
(Article 52)
Court sessions are to be public except in the case that the court decides to
make them secret in the interest of public order or morals. In all cases,
the verdict is announced in a public session.
(Article 53)
The armed forces are the property of the people. Their mission is the
protection of the country and the safety and security of its lands. It is not
permissible for anybody or group to establish military or paramilitary
formations. The defense of the country and its land is sacred
responsibility, and conscription is mandatory according to the law. The law
stipulates the conditions for military service and promotion in the armed
forces.
(Article 54)
A council entitles "The National Defense Council" will be established. It will
be headed by the president of the republic and tasked with evaluating
affairs concerned with means of securing the country and its safety. The
law will stipulate its other responsibilities.
(Article 55)
The police are a civil order body whose responsibility is to serve the
people. The police guarantee for the people tranquility and security and
provide for the maintenance of order, public security and morals,
according to the law.
(Article 56)
The Supreme Council of the Armed Forces deals with the administration of
the affairs of the country. To achieve this, it has directly the following;
1- Legislation
2- Issuing public policy for the state and the public budget and
ensuring its implementation
3- Appointing the appointed members of the People's Assembly
Council
4- Calling the People's Assembly and Shoura Councils to enter into
normal session, adjourn, or hold an extraordinary session, and
adjourn said session
5- The right to promulgate laws or object to them
6- Represent the state domestically and abroad, sign international
treaties and agreements, and be considered a part of the legal
system of the state
7- Appoint the prime minister and his deputies, ministers and their
deputies, as well as relieve them from their duties
8- Appoint civilian and military employees and political
representatives, as well as dismiss them according to the law;
accredit foreign political representative
9- Pardon or reduce punishment, through blanket amnesty is granted
only by law
10-Other authorities and responsibilities as determined by the
president of the republic pursuit to laws and regulations. The Council
shall have the power to delegate its head or one of its members to
take on its responsibilities
(Article 57)
The Cabinet of Ministers and the ministers shall assume executive
authority in all that pertains to them, and the Cabinet in particular will be
responsible for;
1- Participate with the Supreme Council of the Armed Forces to put in
place public policies of the state and supervise their
implementation, according to the laws and resolutions of the
republic
2- Direct, coordinate, and follow the work of the ministries and their
related fronts, in addition to public institutions and bodies
3- Issue administrative and executive orders according to laws,
regulations, and decisions, and see to their implementation
4- Prepare draft legislation, regulations and decrees
5- Prepare a draft public budget for the state
6- Prepare a draft public plan for the state
7- Contract and grant loans according to the constitutional principles
8- Note the implementation of laws, preservation of state security,
and protection of citizen rights and state interests
(Article 58)
It is not permissible for a minister during his tenure to engage in an
independent profession, buy or rent anything using state money, rent out
or sell anything with state money, or barter with state money
(Article 59)
The president of the republic, after taking into account the opinion of the
cabinet, can announce a state of emergency as stipulated in law. He must
present this announcement to the People's Assembly Council within the
seven subsequent days to decide its view on this matter. If the state of
emergency is announced in a period of recess, the Assembly must be
called back to session immediately to review the matter, taking into
account the time limit mentioned above. If the People's Assembly Council
is dissolved, the matter will be reviewed by the new Assembly at its first
meeting. A majority of the members of the People's Assembly Council
must agree to the announcement of state of emergency. In all cases, the
announcement of a state of emergency will be for a limited time period
not exceeding 6 months. It is not permissible to extent it, except after a
people's referendum on the matter and their agreement to an extension.
(Article 60)
The members of the first People's Assembly and Shoura Councils (except
the appointed members) will meet in a joint session following an invitation
from the Supreme Council of Armed Forces within 6 months of their
election to elect a provisional assembly composed of 100 members which
will prepare a new draft constitution for the country to be completed
within 6 months of the formation of this assembly. The draft constitution
will be presented within 15 days of its preparation to the people who will
vote in a referendum on the matter. The constitution will take effect from
the date on which the people approve the referendum.
(Article 61)
The Supreme Council of Armed Forces will continue directly with its limited
responsibilities following this announcement, until a time at which the
People's Assembly and Shoura Councils assume their responsibilities and
the president of the republic is elected and assumes his position.
(Article 62)
All laws and regulations decided upon before the publication of this
announcement remain valid and implemented; however, it is possible to
cancel laws or amend them according to the rules and procedures adopted
in this announcement.
(Article 63)
This announcement will be published in the official gazette and will be in
effect the day following its publication.
