Armenia 1995 (rev. 2005)

The Republic of Armenia is a sovereign, democratic state, based on social justice and the rule of law.

In the Republic of Armenia, the power lies with the people.

The people exercise their power through free elections and referenda, as well as through state and local self-governing bodies and public officials as provided by the Constitution. The usurpation of power by any organization or individual constitutes a crime.

A human being, his/her dignity, fundamental rights and freedoms are an inalienable and ultimate value.

The Republic of Armenia shall ensure the protection of fundamental human and civil rights and freedoms in conformity with the principles and norms of international law.

The State's exercise of power shall be limited by the fundamental human and civil rights and freedoms.

The elections of the President, the National Assembly and local self-governing bodies as well as referenda, are held based on the right to universal, equal and direct suffrage by secret ballot.

State power shall be exercised in accordance with the Constitution and the laws based on the principle of the separation and balance of the legislative, executive and judicial powers.

State and local self-government bodies and public officials may execute only such acts as authorized by the Constitution and laws.

The Constitution has supreme legal force and the norms thereof shall apply directly.

Laws shall conform to the Constitution. Other legal acts shall conform to the Constitution and the laws.

Laws shall come into force following the publication in the Official Bulletin. Other legal acts shall come into force after publication in the manner prescribed by law.

International agreements concluded shall come into force only after being ratified or approved. The international agreements are a constituent part of the legal system of the Republic of Armenia. If a ratified international agreement stipulates norms other than those stipulated in the laws, the norms of the agreement shall prevail. International agreements not complying with the Constitution cannot be ratified.

The normative legal acts shall be adopted on the basis of the Constitution and laws and for the purpose of ensuring their implementation.

The ideological pluralism and multiparty system are recognized in the Republic of Armenia.

Parties are formed freely and promote the formulation and expression of the political will of the people. Their activities may not contravene the Constitution and the laws, nor may their practice contravene the principles of democracy.

Parties shall ensure the openness of their financial activities.

The Republic of Armenia recognizes and protects the right for property.

The freedom of economic activity and free economic competition are guaranteed in the Republic of Armenia.

The church shall be separate from the State in the Republic of Armenia.

The Republic of Armenia recognizes the exclusive mission of the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church as a national church, in the spiritual life, development of the national culture and preservation of the national identity of the people of Armenia.

Freedom of activities for all religious organizations operating in accordance with the law shall be guaranteed in the Republic of Armenia.

The relationship between the Republic of Armenia and the Armenian Apostolic Holy Church may be regulated by law.

The armed forces of the Republic of Armenia ensure security, defense and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia, as well as the inviolability of its borders. The armed forces shall maintain neutrality in political matters and remain under civilian control.

The foreign policy of the Republic of Armenia shall be conducted in accordance with the principles and norms of international law, with the aim of establishing good neighborly and mutually beneficial relations with all states.

The State shall ensure the protection and reproduction of the environment and the reasonable utilization of natural resources.

Historical and cultural monuments and other cultural values are under the care and protection of the State.

Within the framework of the principles and norms of international law, the Republic of Armenia shall contribute to fostering relations with the Armenian Diaspora, protection of Armenian historical and cultural values located in other countries, and advancing Armenian education and culture.

Regions and communities shall be the administrative-territorial units in the Republic of Armenia.

The Republic of Armenia guarantees local self-government.

The citizens of the Republic of Armenia shall be under the protection of the Republic of Armenia within the territory of the Republic of Armenia and beyond its borders. Armenians by birth shall acquire citizenship of the Republic of Armenia through a simplified procedure.

The rights and responsibilities of citizens with dual citizenship shall be defined by law.

The State language of the Republic of Armenia is Armenian.

The flag of the Republic of Armenia is three colors made up of three horizontal and equal strips of red, blue, and orange.

The coat of arms of the Republic of Armenia depicts, in the center on a shield, Mount Ararat with Noah's ark and the coats of arms of the four kingdoms of historical Armenia. The shield is supported by a lion and an eagle while a sword, a branch, a sheaf, a chain and a ribbon are portrayed under the shield.

Details of the flag and the coat of arms shall be defined by law.

The national anthem of the Republic of Armenia shall be defined by law.

The capital of the Republic of Armenia is Yerevan.

Human dignity shall be respected and protected by the State as an inviolable foundation of human rights and freedoms.

All people are equal before the law.

Discrimination based on sex, race, color of the skin, ethnic or social origin, genetic circumstances, language, religion, viewpoints, political or other opinions, belonging to a national minority, property status, birth, disability, age or other conditions of personal or social character shall be prohibited.

Everyone has a right to life. No one shall be sentenced or subjected to the death penalty.

Everyone shall have the right of personal liberty and inviolability. A man can be deprived of liberty in cases and by the procedure provided for by law. The law can provide for deprivation of liberty only in the following cases:

1. a person is sentenced by a competent court for a committed offense;
2. a person has failed to comply with a legitimate judicial decision of a court;
3. Rights of debtors
   to ensure the fulfillment of certain obligations prescribed by law;
4. Regulation of evidence collection
   reasonable suspicion exists of the committing of a crime or when it is necessary to prevent the commission of a crime by the person or to prevent his/her escape after the crime is committed;
5. to establish educational control over a minor or to present him/her to other institutions;
6. to prevent the spread of infectious diseases and to prevent the social dangers posed by the mentally disabled, alcoholic, drug-addicted or homeless person;
7. Power to deport citizens
   to prevent the illicit entry of a person into the territory of the Republic of Armenia, as well as to deport or extradite him/her to a foreign country.

Everyone who is deprived of liberty shall be immediately informed, in a language comprehensible to him/her, of the reasons and, if criminal charges are presented, of the charges against him/her. Anyone deprived of liberty has the right to immediately inform the person of his/her choice thereof.

If the arrested person is not detained within 72 hours, by the court decision he/she must be released immediately.

Every person has the right to recover damages due to the illegal deprivation of liberty or an illegal search, on the grounds and by the procedures defined by law. Every person has the right to appeal the legality and validity of his/her deprivation of liberty or illegal search in the court of higher instance.

No one shall be deprived of his/her freedom for not being able to honor his/her civil contractual obligations.

No one shall be subjected to search otherwise than in cases and in accordance with the procedure prescribed by law.

No one shall be subjected to torture, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment. Arrested, detained or incarcerated persons shall be entitled to humane treatment and the respect of their dignity.

A human being shall not be subjected to scientific, medical and other experiments without his/her consent.

Everyone has the right to effective legal remedies for the protection of his/her rights and freedoms before courts and other state bodies.

Everyone has the right to protect his/her rights and freedoms by any means not prohibited by law.

Everyone is entitled to have the support of the Human Rights' Defender for the protection of his/her rights and freedoms on the grounds and in conformity with the procedure prescribed by law.

Everyone shall in conformity with the international agreements of the Republic of Armenia be entitled to apply to the international institutions protecting human rights and freedoms to protect his/her rights and freedoms.

Everyone has a right to restore his/her violated rights, and to reveal the grounds of the charge against him/her in a fair public hearing under the equal protection of the law and fulfilling all the demands of justice within a reasonable time by an independent and impartial court.

The representatives of the mass media and the public may be excluded from all or part of the trial in the interests of morals, public order, national security, protection of the private life of the parties to the case or administration of justice so require.

Everyone shall be entitled to legal assistance. Legal assistance shall be provided to the defendant at the expense of the State resources in cases prescribed by law.

Everyone shall have a right to legal counsel of his/her choice starting from the moment of being arrested, charged or detained.

Every convicted person shall have the right to appeal the judgment against him/her to a higher court.

Every convicted person shall have a right to request a pardon or a mitigation of the punishment.

All damages incurred by the victim shall be compensated in conformity with the procedure prescribed by law.

Everyone charged with a criminal offense shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty by a court judgment lawfully entered into force as prescribed by law.

The defendant shall not be obliged to prove his/her innocence. The remaining suspicions shall be interpreted in favor of the defendant.

No one shall be obliged to testify about himself/herself, his/her spouse and close relatives. The law may prescribe other cases of release from the obligation to testify.

The use of illegally obtained evidence is prohibited.

The imposition of a heavier punishment than the one in effect at the time when the crime was committed shall be prohibited.

No one shall be held guilty for a crime on account of any act which did not constitute a crime under the law at the time when it was committed.

The law eliminating or mitigating the penalty for the offense shall be retroactive.

The law prescribing or increasing liability shall not be retroactive.

No one shall be tried twice for the same act.

Everyone shall have the right to respect for his private and family life.

No information, other than that provided for by law, may be collected, kept, used and disseminated about any person without his/her agreeing thereto. It shall be prohibited to use or disseminate information about a person if it contradicts the purposes of collection or is not provided for by law.

Everyone shall be entitled to the right to be acquainted with the official information about himself/herself and in the possession of governmental or local self-administration bodies.

Everyone shall have the right of the correction of inaccurate information, and the elimination of illegally obtained information about himself/herself.

Everyone shall have the right to the privacy of correspondence, telephone conversations, mail, telegraph and other communications, which shall be restricted only by court decision in cases and in conformity with the procedures prescribed by law.

Everyone shall have the right of inviolability of the residence. Breaking into a person's residence against his/her will shall be prohibited save in cases prescribed by law.

The place of residence can be searched only by a decision of the court in cases and in conformity with the procedures prescribed by law.

Anyone legally residing in the Republic of Armenia shall have the right to the freedom of movement and residence within the territory of the Republic of Armenia.

Everyone shall have a right to leave the Republic of Armenia.

The citizens of the Republic of Armenia and any person who has the right to reside in the Republic of Armenia shall have the right to return to the Republic of Armenia.

Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right includes the freedom to change religions or beliefs, and the freedom to preach and express these beliefs through church ceremonies and other worship rituals in a public or private manner, alone as well as with others.

Expression of this right can be restricted only by law, if it is necessary for public security, health, morals or for the protection of rights and freedoms of others.

Everyone shall have the right to freely express his/her opinion. No one shall be forced to rescind or change his/her opinion.

Everyone shall have the right to the freedom of expression including freedom to search for, receive and impart information and ideas by any means of information media regardless of frontiers.

Freedom of mass media and other means of mass information shall be guaranteed.

The State guarantees the existence and activities of independent and public radio and television offering a variety of informational, cultural and entertaining programs.

Everyone shall have the right to submit letters and recommendations to the authorized public and local self-government bodies for the protection of private and public interests and the right to receive appropriate answers in a reasonable time.

Everyone shall have the right to freedom of association with others, including the right to form and to join trade unions.

Every citizen shall have a right to form political parties with other citizens and join such parties.

The rights to set up parties and trade unions and join them may be restricted in a manner prescribed by law for the servicemen of the armed forces, police, national security, prosecutor's office, as well as judges and members of the Constitutional Court.

No one shall be compelled to join any political party or association.

The activities of associations can be suspended or prohibited only by a court decision and in the cases prescribed by law.

Everyone shall have the right to the freedom of a peaceful and unarmed assembly.

Restrictions on exercising those rights by the servicemen in the armed forces, police, national security, prosecutor's office, judges and members of the Constitutional Court may be prescribed only by law.

Eighteen-year old citizens of the Republic of Armenia have the right to take part in the elections and referenda as well as the right to take part in the State governance and local self-government directly through their representatives chosen with an expression of free will.

The law may define the right of suffrage for the elections of the bodies of local self-government as well as participation in the local referenda for persons who are not citizens of the Republic of Armenia.

Citizens found to be incompetent by a court decision, duly sentenced to prison or serving the sentence, shall not be entitled to vote or be elected.

A child born to the parents who are citizens of the Republic of Armenia is citizen of the Republic of Armenia. Any child with one parent having citizenship in the Republic of Armenia shall be entitled to citizenship of the Republic of Armenia.

The procedure for acquisition and termination of citizenship of the Republic of Armenia shall be defined by law.

No one can be deprived of citizenship, nor the right to change citizenship, of the Republic of Armenia.

Citizens of the Republic of Armenia cannot be surrendered to a foreign state, save for the cases provided for by the international treaties ratified by the Republic of Armenia.

The rights and duties of the persons possessing dual citizenship shall be determined by law.

All citizens shall have the right to equal access to public service in conformity with the procedures prescribed by law.

The principles of and the procedure for the organizational aspects of public service shall be defined by law.

Everyone shall have the right to freely own, use, dispose of and bequeath his/her property. Employment of the right to property shall not damage the environment, violate rights and legitimate interests of other persons, society and the State.

No one shall be deprived of property except for the cases prescribed by law in conformity with judicial procedure.

Private property may be alienated for the needs of society and the State only for prevailing public interests, in a manner prescribed by law, and with prior equivalent compensation.

Foreign citizens and persons without citizenship shall not enjoy the right to land ownership except for the cases prescribed by law.

Intellectual property shall be protected by law.

The State shall protect the interests of consumers, exercise quality control over goods, services and works as prescribed by law.

Everyone shall have the right of choice of employment.

Each employee shall have the right to fair remuneration in the amount no less than the minimum set by law, as well as the right to working conditions in full compliance with safety and hygiene requirements.

Employees shall have the right to strike for the protection of their economic, social and employment interests, the procedure for and limitations thereon shall be prescribed by law.

The children under the age of 16 shall not be allowed to work full time. The procedure and conditions for their hiring to a part-time job shall be defined by law.

Compulsory labor shall be prohibited.

Everyone shall have the right to rest.

The law shall define the maximum working hours and holidays, as well as the minimum length of annual leave.

Everyone shall have the right to the freedom of enterprise not prohibited by law.

Abuse of monopoly or prerogative position in the market as well as bad faith competition shall be prohibited.

Restrictions on competition, possible types of monopoly and the admissible patterns thereof may be prescribed by law, only if it is necessary for the protection of public interests.

Everyone shall have the right to live in an environment favorable to his/her health and well-being, and shall be obliged to, individually or as a group, protect and improve it.

The public officials shall be held responsible for the concealment of or the denial of access to information on environmental issues.

Everyone shall have the right to a standard of living adequate for himself/herself and for his/her family, including housing as well as the improvement of living conditions. The State shall take the necessary measures for the exercise of this right by the citizens.

The family is the natural and fundamental cell of the society.

A woman and a man of marriageable age shall have the right to marry and to create a family in the free expression of their will. They are entitled to equal rights as during the engagement, marriage and divorce.

It shall be prohibited to dismiss an employee on grounds related to motherhood. Every female employee, in the case of pregnancy and childbirth, shall be entitled to the right for paid maternity leave and the right of parental leave following the birth or adoption of a child.

The parents shall have the right and obligation to take care of the education and health as well as the full and harmonious development of their children.

No one can be deprived of or restricted in his/her parental rights save by the decision of the court in conformity with the procedures prescribed by law.

Adult capable persons are obliged to take care of their parents who are incapacitated and in need of such care.

Everyone shall have the right to social security during old age, disability, loss of bread winner, unemployment and other cases prescribed by law. The amount and forms of social security shall be prescribed by law.

Everyone shall have the right to medical assistance and service in the manner provided for by law. Everyone shall be entitled to free basic medical services. The list and regulation for provision of such services shall be prescribed by law.

Everyone shall have a right to education.

Basic general education is compulsory with the exception of cases provided for by law. The law may provide for a higher threshold of compulsory education.

Secondary education in state educational institutions shall be free.

The law shall define the principles of autonomy for institutions of higher education.

The procedures for establishing and operating educational institutions shall be defined by law.

Each citizen shall be entitled to free education in state institutions of higher and other professional education institutions on the basis of competition as prescribed by law. In the cases and in conformity with the procedure prescribed by law, the State shall provide financial and other assistance to institutions of higher and other professional education as well as their students.

Everyone shall have the right to the freedom of literary, aesthetic, scientific and technical creation, to make use of the scientific advancement and to participate in the cultural life of the society.

Everyone shall be entitled to preserve his/her national and ethnic identity.

People belonging to national minorities shall be entitled to the preservation and development of their traditions, religion, language and culture.

The fundamental human and civil rights and freedoms stipulated in the Constitution shall not exclude other rights and freedoms provided for by laws and international treaties.

Everyone shall have the right to act in a way not prohibited by law and not violating others' rights and freedoms. No one shall bear obligations not stipulated by law.

The laws and other legal acts exacerbating the legal status of an individual shall not be retroactive.

The legal acts improving the legal status of an individual or eliminating or mitigating his/her liability shall be retroactive if prescribed by the acts in question.

Fundamental human and civil rights and freedoms shall also be applied to legal entities, as far as they are applicable thereto.

The fundamental human and civil rights and freedoms set forth in Articles 23-25, 27, 28-30, 30.1, paragraph 3 of Article 32 can only be temporarily restricted by law if it is necessary in a democratic society in the interests of national security, public order, crime prevention, protection of public health and morality, constitutional rights and freedoms, as well as the honor and reputation of others.

Any restrictions on human and civil rights and freedoms shall not exceed the scope set by the international commitments of the Republic of Armenia.

Special categories of human and civil rights, except for those stipulated in Articles 15, 17-22, and 42 of the Constitution, can be temporarily restricted as prescribed by law in case of martial law or a state of emergency within the scope of international commitments on deviating from commitments in cases of emergency.

Everyone shall be obliged to pay taxes, duties and other compulsory fees in conformity with the procedure prescribed by law.

Every citizen shall be obliged to take part in the defense of the Republic of Armenia in conformity with the procedure prescribed by law.

Everyone shall be obliged to honor the Constitutions and the laws, to respect the rights, freedoms and dignity of others.

The exercise of the rights and freedoms with the purpose of the overthrow of the constitutional order, incitement to national, racial and religious hatred, propaganda of violence or warfare shall be prohibited.

The main goals of the State in the economic, social and cultural fields shall be to:

1. Protection of environment, Rights of children
   protect and support family, motherhood and childhood,
2. Right to work
   contribute towards the public's employment and improvement of work conditions,
3. develop residential construction, contribute towards improvement of accommodation conditions for each citizen,
4. implement programs of health care for the people, contribute towards the establishment of effective and affordable medical services,
5. contribute towards participation of the youth in the political, economic and cultural life of the country,
6. advance the development of physical culture and sports,
7. implement programs of prevention and treatment of disabilities, advance participation of the disabled in public life,
8. contribute towards the development of free higher and other professional education,
9. Reference to art, Reference to science
   contribute towards the development of sciences and arts,
10. Protection of environment
    conduct policies aimed at guaranteeing environmental security for current and future generations,
11. International law
    support the free access for everyone with national and international values,
12. assure a worthy standard of living for elderly people.

The State shall take measures, within its capacities, to achieve the goals outlined in this article.

The President of the Republic shall be the head of the State.

The President of the Republic shall strive to uphold the Constitution and to ensure the regular functioning of the legislative, executive and judicial powers.

The President of the Republic shall be the guarantor of the independence, territorial integrity and security of the Republic of Armenia.

The President of the Republic shall be elected by the citizens of the Republic of Armenia for a five year term of office.

Every person having attained the age of thirty-five, having been a citizen of the Republic of Armenia for the preceding ten years, having permanently resided in the Republic for the preceding ten years, and having the right to vote is eligible to be elected as President.

The same person may not be elected for the post of the President of the Republic for more than two consecutive terms.

The election of the President of the Republic shall be held fifty days prior to the expiration of his/her term of office in conformity with the procedure defined by the Constitution and the law.

The candidate who has received more than half of the votes shall be elected President of the Republic.

If the election involves more than two candidates and none of them receives the required number of votes, a second round of voting shall be held on the fourteenth day following the first round of voting, in which the two candidates having received the highest number of votes shall participate. The candidate who receives the highest number of valid votes in the second round shall be elected President of the Republic.

If only one candidate runs for election, he/she shall be elected if he/she receives more than half of the votes of electors who participated in the polls.

If the Constitutional Court admits a case on the results of presidential elections, it must render a decision within ten days following the registration of the complaint, and the terms defined in this article shall be calculated starting from the moment the court decision comes into force.

If the President of the Republic is not elected, a new election shall be appointed and the voting shall be held on the fortieth day following the date of appointment of the new election.

The President of the Republic shall take office on the day when the term of office of the previous President expires.

The President of the Republic elected by new or extraordinary elections shall take office on the twentieth day following the elections.

If one of the presidential candidates faces insurmountable obstacles for the election of the President of the Republic, it shall be postponed for two weeks. In the event that the obstacles recognized as insurmountable are not eliminated within the aforementioned period of time, a new election shall be appointed and the voting shall be held on the fortieth day following the expiration of the two week period.

In case of the death of one of the candidates before the day of voting, a new election shall be appointed and the voting shall be held on the fortieth day following the date of appointment of the new election.

In the event of the resignation of the President of the Republic, his or her death, incapacity to perform his or her functions or removal from office in accordance with Article 57 of the Constitution, extraordinary presidential elections shall be held on the fortieth day following the vacancy of the office.

During martial law or a state of emergency, no elections of the President of the Republic shall be held and the President of the Republic shall continue the discharge of his/her duties. In this case, elections of the President of Republic shall be held on the fortieth day following the expiration of the term of the martial law or state of emergency.

The President of the Republic shall accept office in conformity with the procedure prescribed by law at the special sitting of the National Assembly by swearing the following oath to the people, "Assuming the office of the President of the Republic of Armenia, I swear: to fulfill the requirements of the Constitution in an unreserved manner; respect the human and civil rights and freedoms; to ensure the protection, independence, territorial integrity and security of the Republic to the glory of the Republic of Armenia and to the welfare of the people of the Republic of Armenia."

The President of the Republic:

1. shall deliver addresses to the people and the National Assembly;
2. Approval or veto of general legislation, Veto override procedure
   shall sign and promulgate, within twenty-one days of receipt, the laws passed by the National Assembly;

   Within this period he/she may return the law to the National Assembly with objections and recommendations requesting for new deliberations. The President shall sign and promulgate within five days the law re-adopted by the National Assembly;

3. Dismissal of the legislature
   shall] dissolve the National Assembly in the cases and in conformity with the procedure prescribed by Article 74. 1 of the Constitution and declare extraordinary elections;
4. Head of government selection, Head of government replacement, Cabinet removal, Head of government removal, Head of government term length, Cabinet selection
   shall appoint as Prime Minister the person who, upon the distribution of seats in the National Assembly and consultations held with the parliamentary factions, enjoys the confidence of the majority of the Deputies, and if it is not possible, the person who enjoys confidence of the maximum number of the Deputies. The President shall appoint the Prime Minister within ten days after accepting the resignation of the Government. Within 20 days after the appointment of the Prime Minister, the Government shall be formed.

   The President of the Republic shall appoint to and dismiss from office the members of the Government upon the recommendation of the Prime Minister;

   The President of the Republic shall accept the resignation of the Government on the day of the first sitting of the newly elected National Assembly; of the assumption of the office by the President of the Republic; of the expression of the vote of no confidence to the Government; of not giving approval to the program of the Government; of the resignation of the Prime Minister or the office of the Prime Minister remaining vacant. After the acceptance of the resignation of the Government by the President of the Republic, the members of the Government shall continue the realization of their duties until the formation of the new Government;

5. shall make appointments to State office positions in cases prescribed by law;
6. Advisory bodies to the head of state
   shall form and preside over the National Security Council, and establish other advisory bodies;
7. Treaty ratification, International law, Foreign affairs representative
   shall represent the Republic of Armenia in international relations; supervise the foreign policy; conclude international agreements; forward the international agreements to the National Assembly for ratification and sign their ratification forms; approve, suspend or annul the international agreements for which no ratification is required;
8. International organizations
   shall appoint to and recall from office the diplomatic representatives of the Republic of Armenia in foreign countries and international organizations, accept the letters of accreditation and recall of the diplomatic representatives in foreign countries and international organizations;
9. Attorney general
   shall submit to the National Assembly the candidacy of the Prosecutor General, the Chairman of the Central Bank and the Chairman of Audit Chamber. Shall, upon the recommendation of the Prosecutor General, appoint and release the Deputies of the Prosecutor General;
10. Constitutional court selection, Constitutional court removal
    shall appoint four members of the Constitutional Court, and, if the National Assembly fails to appoint the President of the Constitutional Court in the timeframe outlined in Article 83(2) of the Constitution, shall appoint the President of the Constitutional Court.

    He may, on the basis of a conclusion of the Constitutional Court terminate the powers of any of his appointees in the Constitutional Court or give his consent to name the member as an accused, detain, authorize the institution of a court proceeding to subject the member to administrative responsibility;

11. Supreme/ordinary court judge removal, Ordinary court selection, Supreme court selection, Structure of the courts
    upon the recommendation of the Council of Justice:
    1. shall appoint the presidents and the judges of the Court of Cassation and its chambers, the Courts of Appeals, the courts of first instance and specialized courts;
    2. may terminate their powers;
    3. give agreement to include as a defendant, detain or authorize administrative proceedings through the judicial process;

    upon the conclusion of the Council of Justice, appoint judges of the appellate, first instance and professional courts;

12. shall appoint two legal scholars as members of the Council of Justice;
13. Designation of commander in chief, Selection of active-duty commanders
    shall be the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, coordinate the operations of the government bodies in the area of defense, appoint to and dismiss from office the Highest Command of the armed and paramilitary forces;
14. in the event of an armed attack against the Republic, an imminent danger thereof or declaration of war, shall declare martial law and may call for a general or partial mobilization and shall decide on the use of the armed forces.

    During warfare the President may appoint or dismiss from office the Highest Commandant.

    In case of the use of the armed forces or a declaration of martial law, a special sitting of the National Assembly shall be convened by force of law.

    The law shall define the legal regime of martial law;

15. Emergency provisions
    in the event of an imminent danger to the constitutional order, after consulting with the President of the National Assembly and the Prime Minister, shall declare a state of emergency and take measures appropriate in the given circumstances and address the people on the situation.

    In case of a declaration of the state of emergency, a special sitting of the National Assembly shall be convened by force of law.

    The law shall define the legal regime of the state of emergency;

16. Protection of stateless persons
    shall, by the procedures defined by law, resolve issues related to granting citizenship of the Republic of Armenia and political asylum;
17. shall award the orders and medals of the Republic of Armenia, promote the highest military ranks and award honorary titles, as well as promote the highest diplomatic and other classification ranks;
18. Power to pardon
    may grant pardon to convicted persons.

The President of the Republic may issue orders and decrees, which shall not contradict the Constitution and laws of the Republic of Armenia and shall be subject to implementation throughout the Republic.

The President of the Republic shall be inviolable.

The President of the Republic may not be prosecuted or held liable for actions arising from the performance of his/her status during and after the term of his/her office.

The President of the Republic may be prosecuted for the actions not connected with his or her status after the expiration of term of office.

The President may be removed from office for state treason or other high crimes.

In order to request a determination on questions pertaining to the removal of the President of the Republic from office, the National Assembly must appeal to the Constitutional Court by a resolution adopted by the majority of the Deputies.

A decision to remove the President of the Republic from office must be reached by the National Assembly by a minimum two-thirds majority vote of the total number of Deputies, based on the determination of the Constitutional Court.

In the event that the Constitutional Court concludes that there are no grounds for impeaching the President of the Republic, the motion shall be removed from the agenda of the National Assembly.

The President of the Republic shall submit his/her resignation to the National Assembly. In the case of submitting the resignation for a second time within two days following the expiration of a ten-day period after presenting the resignation to the National Assembly, the resignation shall be deemed accepted and an extraordinary election shall be held in conformity with the procedure and terms stipulated in the Constitution.

In the case of the serious illness of the President of the Republic or other insurmountable obstacles which enduringly render the discharge of his/her responsibilities impossible, the National Assembly shall, upon the recommendation of the Government, the conclusion of the Constitutional Court and with a minimum of two-thirds majority vote of the total number of its members, adopt a decision on the incapacity by the President of the Republic to discharge his/her responsibilities.

In the event that the Constitutional Court concludes that the grounds for the incapacity of the President of the Republic to discharge his/her responsibilities do not exist, the Government may not put such motion forward to the National Assembly.

In the event of the vacancy of the post of the President of the Republic, and before the newly-elected President assumes office, the presidential duties shall devolve onto the President of the National Assembly or, if that is impossible, onto the Prime Minister. While the President of the National Assembly is performing the duties of the President of the Republic, the duties of the President of the National Assembly shall devolve to the Vice-President of the National Assembly, who was elected to his/her post by a majority of votes. During this period, it is prohibited to call a referendum, appoint the Prime Minister, appoint to and dismiss from office the Highest Command of the armed and paramilitary forces (except in a martial law situation), make appointments to police and national security positions in cases prescribed by law, as well as exercise the powers stipulated in Points 3, 8, 16 and 17 of Article 55 of the Constitution.

The President of the Republic shall, in conformity with the procedures defined by law, form his/her staff. The remuneration, service and security of the President of the Republic shall be prescribed by law.

Legislative power in the Republic of Armenia shall be vested in the National Assembly. In cases stipulated in Points 13 and 14 of Article 55, Articles 57, 59, Part 2 of this Article, 66, 67, 69, 73, 74, 74.1, 75, 77, 79, Part 2 of Article 80, 81, 83, 83.1, 83.2, 83.3, 83.4, 84, 94.1, Point 2 of Article 101, 103, 110, 111 and 112 as well as on matters related to the organization of its activities, the National Assembly shall adopt decisions which shall be signed and promulgated by the President of the National Assembly.

The National Assembly shall make addresses and announcements in conformity with the procedures prescribed by the Law on the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly.

The powers of the National Assembly shall be defined by the Constitution.

The procedure of the activities of the National Assembly, as well as the formation and activity of its bodies, shall be defined by the Constitution and the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly.

The National Assembly shall consist of one hundred and thirty-one Deputies.

The National Assembly is elected for a term of 5 years. Its term of office shall begin at the moment when newly-elected National Assembly assembles for its first sitting. The term of office of the National Assembly shall expire at the moment of the opening of the first sitting of the newly elected National Assembly.

The National Assembly may not be dissolved during the state of martial law and state of emergency as well as in the event a motion on impeaching the President of Republic is put forward.

During a state of martial law or state of emergency, no elections of the National Assembly shall be held, and the term of office of the National Assembly shall be extended until the opening of the first session of the newly-elected National Assembly following the end of the martial law or state of emergency. In this case, elections of the National Assembly shall be held not earlier than fifty and not later than sixty days following the expiration of the term of the martial law or state of emergency.

Any person having attained the age of twenty five, having been a citizen of the Republic of Armenia for the preceding five years, having permanently resided in the Republic for the preceding five years, and who has the right to vote, may be elected as a Deputy.

A Deputy may not run businesses, hold any other state or local self-government office or positions in commercial structures, or engage in any paid occupation except for scientific, educational and creative work.

A Deputy shall discharge his/her responsibilities on a permanent basis.

The status and guarantees of the activity of a Deputy shall be defined by the Constitution and the law.

A Deputy shall not be bound by any imperative mandate and shall be guided by his or her conscience and convictions.

A Deputy, during and after the term of his or her parliamentary office, may not be prosecuted and held liable for actions arising from his or her status, including for his or her opinions expressed in the National Assembly, provided these are not insulting or defamatory.

A Deputy may not be involved as an accused or subjected to a suit for administrative liability through the judicial process without the consent of the National Assembly.

A Deputy may not be arrested without the consent of the National Assembly except for cases when he/she is caught in flagrante delicto. In such a case, the President of the National Assembly shall be immediately notified.

The powers of a Deputy shall terminate upon the expiration of the term of office of the National Assembly, the dissolution of the National Assembly, the violation of the provisions stipulated in Part 1 of Article 65 of the Constitution, loss of citizenship, absence from more than half of floor voting in the course of a single session, prison sentence, legal incapacity and resignation from post.

A Deputy's term of office shall be terminated in a manner prescribed by the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly.

Regular elections to the National Assembly shall be held no earlier than fifty and no later than forty days prior to the expiration of the term of the current National Assembly.

At extraordinary elections of the National Assembly, the voting shall take place no earlier than thirty and no later forty days after the dissolution of the National Assembly.

The date of elections shall be fixed by a Presidential decree.

The first session of a newly elected National Assembly shall convene on the third Thursday following the election of at least two-thirds of the total number of Deputies.

In case of extraordinary elections of the National Assembly, the first session the newly-elected National Assembly shall convene on the second Thursday following the election of at least two-thirds of the total number of Deputies.

The regular sessions of the National Assembly shall be convene on the dates and in a manner prescribed by the Law on the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly.

The sittings of the National Assembly shall be open to the public. Closed-door sittings may be convened by a resolution of the National Assembly.

An extraordinary session or sitting of the National Assembly shall be convened by the President of the National Assembly at the initiative of the President of the Republic, of at least one-third of the total number of Deputies or of the Government. The extraordinary session or sitting shall be held by the agenda and timetable specified by the initiator.

The laws and decisions of the National Assembly, save for the cases set forth in the Constitution, shall be adopted by the majority of votes of the Deputies who have participated in the voting provided that more than half of the total number of Deputies have voted.

Should the National Assembly decline to accept the recommendations and objections presented by the President of the Republic, it shall pass the remanded law, again with a majority vote of the number of Deputies. The National Assembly shall deliberate the law remanded by the President on a priority basis.

There may be not more than twelve standing committees established in the National Assembly.

The standing committees shall be established for the preliminary review of draft legislation and other issues and for providing the National Assembly with conclusions thereon.

If necessary and in conformity with the procedure stipulated in the Law on the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, ad hoc committees may be established for the preliminary review of special draft laws or for submission of conclusions and reports on certain issues, events and facts to the National Assembly.

The Government shall within twenty days of its formation present its program to the National Assembly for approval. Approval of the program of the Government shall be deliberated on a priority basis and shall be voted within five days after submission. The decision on the approval of the program of the Government requires a majority vote of the total number of Deputies.

If the National Assembly does not give an approval to the program of the Government two times in succession within two months, the President of the Republic shall dissolve the National Assembly.

The President of the Republic may also dissolve the National Assembly upon the proposal of the President of the National Assembly or the Prime Minister in the following cases:

1. if the National Assembly fails within three months to decide on the draft law deemed urgent by the decision of the Government; or
2. if, in the course of a regular session, no sittings of the National Assembly are convened for more than three months; or
3. if, in the course of a regular session, the National Assembly fails for more than three months to adopt decisions on issues under debate.

The right of legislative initiative in the National Assembly shall belong to the Deputies and the Government.

The Government may determine the sequence of the debate for its proposed draft legislation and may demand that they be voted only with amendments acceptable to it.

In conformity with the conclusion of the Government, the National Assembly shall adopt draft laws reducing the state budget revenues or increasing the state budget expenditures by a majority of the total number of votes of the Deputies.

The Government can put forward a motion of confidence in connection with the adoption of a draft law proposed by the Government. If within twenty-four hours of the Government's raising of the question of the vote of confidence, not less than one-third of the total number of Deputies fails to present a proposal for a vote of no confidence or, if in the case of such a proposal, the National Assembly does not pass a vote of no confidence to the Government by a majority of the total number of Deputies during a period set forth in Article 84, Part 3, the Government's draft law shall be considered to have been adopted.

The Government may not raise the issue of its vote of confidence in conjunction with a draft law more than twice during any single session.

The National Assembly shall adopt the state budget upon its submission by the Government. If the budget is not adopted by the start of the fiscal year, all expenditures shall be incurred in the same proportions as in the previous year's budget.

The procedure for debate on and adoption of the state budget shall be prescribed by the Law on the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly.

The National Assembly shall supervise the implementation of the state budget, as well as the use of loans and credits received from foreign governments and international organizations.

The National Assembly shall examine the annual report on the realization of the state budget and adopt the report based on the findings of the Audit Chamber.

[Removed].

The National Assembly shall elect its President by a majority vote of the total number of Deputies.

The President of the National Assembly shall chair the sittings, manage its material resources, and shall ensure its normal functioning.

The National Assembly shall elect two Vice-Presidents of the National Assembly.

Deputies shall be entitled to ask the Government written and oral questions while the factions and deputy groups shall also be entitled to submit interpellations to the Government. During one sitting of the regular session the Prime Minister and the Government members shall answer the Deputies' questions. The National Assembly shall not pass any decisions in conjunction with the questions raised by the Deputies.

Interpellations shall be submitted in writing at least ten days prior to the debate. The procedure for interpellations, debate and adoption of decisions on such shall be defined by the Law on the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly.

Upon the recommendation of the President of the Republic, the National Assembly:

1. may declare amnesty;
2. Treaty ratification, International law
   ratify, suspend or denounce the international agreements of the Republic of Armenia.

   The National Assembly shall ratify those international agreements:

   1. which are of political or military nature or stipulate changes of the State borders;
   2. which relate to human rights, freedoms and obligations;
   3. which stipulate financial commitments for the Republic of Armenia;
   4. application of which shall bring about legislative amendments or adoption of a new law, or stipulate other norms than those stipulated in the laws;
   5. which prescribe ratification;
   6. other cases defined by law.
3. Power to declare/approve war
   declare war and proclaim peace. In the case where the National Assembly cannot be convened, the President of Republic shall decide the issue of declaring war.

The National Assembly can annul the measures provided for by Points 13 and 14 of Article 55 of the Constitution.

The National Assembly shall, upon the recommendation of the Government, provide for the administrative territorial division of the Republic.

The National Assembly shall:

1. appoint five members of the Constitutional Court upon the recommendation of the President of the National Assembly;
2. within thirty days after the post of the President of the Constitutional Court is vacant, upon the recommendation of the President of the National Assembly, appoint the President from among the members of the Constitutional Court;
3. by a majority vote of the total number of Deputies and on the basis of a conclusion of the Constitutional Court, terminate the powers of any of its appointees in the Constitutional Court, or give its consent to name the member as an accused, detain him/her, authorize the institution of a court proceeding to subject the member to administrative responsibility;
4. elect two legal scholars to the Council of Justice.

The National Assembly shall elect the Ombudsman (Human Rights' Defender) for a period of 6 years by three-fifths of the total number of Deputies.

A person, who is a highly respected figure in the public and who will correspond to the requirements envisaged for a Deputy of the National Assembly, may be elected as an Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman shall be irremovable.

The Ombudsman is an independent official who implements the protection of the violated human rights and fundamental freedoms by state bodies, local self-government bodies and their officials.

State and local self-government bodies and their officials shall cooperate with Ombudsman.

The Ombudsman shall be given the same immunity established for the Deputy.

Other guarantees of the activity of the Ombudsman shall be established by law.

To ensure the goals of freedom, independence and plurality of the broadcasting media, an independent regulatory body shall be established by law. Half of the members of the body shall be elected by the National Assembly and the other half shall be appointed by the President of the Republic for a term of six years. The National Assembly shall elect the members of that body with a majority of votes of the total number of Deputies.

The main objective of the Central Bank of the Republic of Armenia shall be to ensure the stability of prices in the Republic of Armenia. The Central Bank shall develop, approve and implement monetary policy programs.

The Central Bank shall issue the currency of the Republic of Armenia--the Armenian Dram.

The Central Bank shall be independent while performing the tasks and functions granted by the Constitution and the law.

The Chairman of the Central Bank shall be appointed by the National Assembly, upon the proposal of the President of the Republic, for a six-year term. The same person may not be elected for the post of Chairman of the Central Bank for more than two consecutive terms.

In cases provided for by law, the National Assembly may, at the proposal of the President of the Republic and with a majority of votes of the total number of Deputies, dismiss from office the Chairman of the Central Bank.

The Audit Chamber of the Republic of Armenia shall be an independent body, which shall oversee the use of the budget resources and the State and community property.

The work plan of the Audit Chamber shall be approved by the National Assembly.

The Audit Chamber shall at least once a year submit a report on the oversight outcomes to the National Assembly.

The law shall define the regulations on the procedure and the powers of the Audit Chamber.

The Chairman of the Audit Chamber shall be appointed by the National Assembly upon the proposal of the President of the Republic for a term of six years. A person complying with the requirements for the Deputy can be appointed Chairman of the Audit Chamber. The same person may not be elected for the post of Chairman of the Audit Chamber for more than two consecutive terms.

The issues below shall be set forth exclusively by the laws of the Republic of Armenia:

1. terms and procedures for the exercise and protection of the rights by natural persons and legal entities;
2. restrictions on the rights and liberties of natural persons and legal entities; the obligations, as well as forms, extent and procedure for the accountability thereof; means of compulsion and the procedure for such; types, amounts and procedures for the payment of taxes, duties and other binding fees payable by natural persons and legal entities;
3. cases, terms and procedures for control and oversight over the activities of natural persons and legal entities (including checks, examinations and inspections);
4. terms and procedure for establishing legal entities, and suspending or terminating the activities thereof;
5. list of information not deemed private or a family secret for natural persons, or a commercial secret for legal entities;
6. cases, procedure and terms for criminal, administrative, economic (property) or disciplinary liability; the procedure for serving criminal sentences; the procedure for compulsory execution of judicial and administrative acts; the status and powers of prosecutors and attorneys;
7. procedure for holding referenda and elections of the President of the Republic of Armenia, the National Assembly and bodies of local self-government;
8. procedure for the state budget revenues and expenditures;
9. International law
   procedure and terms for concluding and denouncing the international agreements of the Republic of Armenia;
10. legal status of the political parties and other non-governmental associations, as well as mass media entities;
11. The names and borders of the administrative-territorial units of the Republic of Armenia.

The National Assembly may adopt a vote of no confidence in the Government by a majority vote of the total number of Deputies.

A motion of no confidence to the Government may be presented by the President of the Republic or by at least one-third of the total number of Deputies. In situations of martial law or a state of emergency, such a motion may not be presented.

The motion of no confidence in the Government shall be voted on no sooner than forty eight hours and no later than seventy-two hours from its initial submittal.

The Government shall determine and implement the domestic policy of the Republic of Armenia. The Government shall determine and implement the foreign policy of the Republic of Armenia jointly with the President of the Republic. The authority of the Government shall encompass all matters of public administration not bestowed on other state or local self-government bodies.

By virtue of the Constitution, the Government shall adopt decisions which are subject to observance in the whole territory of the Republic, on international agreements, the laws of the Republic of Armenia, and normative acts of the President of the Republic, ensuring the implementation thereof.

The Government shall be formed of the Prime Minister and the Ministers. One of the Ministers, upon the proposal of the Prime Minister, may be appointed by the President as Deputy Prime Minister and substitute for the Prime Minister in his/her absence.

The Prime Minister and the Ministers shall be citizens of the Republic of Armenia.

The Constitution and the laws shall define the powers of the Government.

The structure of the Government, upon a proposal of the Government, shall be regulated by law. The procedure for the organization of the operation of the Government and other bodies of state administration under the Government shall, upon the submission of the Prime Minister, be defined by the decree of the President of the Republic.

The Prime Minister shall convene and chair the Government sittings.

The President of the Republic may convene and chair a sitting of the Government when considering issues in connection with foreign policy, defense and national security.

The Government decisions shall be signed by the Prime Minister.

The President of the Republic can suspend the effect of a Government decision for a period of one month and make an official request to the Constitutional Court for the verification of its compliance with the Constitution.

The Prime Minister shall oversee the Government's activities and shall coordinate the work of the Ministers.

The Prime Minister shall adopt decisions on the organization of Government activities.

A Government member cannot go into business, hold office unrelated to his duties in a state or local self-administration body or in a commercial enterprise, or perform other paid work, except for academic, pedagogical and creative work.

Regional Governors shall be appointed and dismissed from the office by decisions of the Government. Such decisions of the Government are subject to approval by the President of the Republic.

The Regional Governors shall pursue the territorial policy of the Government, directly supervise the activities of the territorial services of the executive bodies, except for cases prescribed by law.

The peculiarities of the territorial policy in the city of Yerevan shall be determined by law.

The Government shall:

1. submit its program to the National Assembly for approval in accordance with Article 74 of the Constitution;
2. submit the draft state budget to the National Assembly for approval, guarantee the execution of the budget and submit financial reports on the budget to the National Assembly;
3. manage the state property;
4. implement unified state policies in the areas of finances, economy, taxation and loans and credits;
5. implement the state territorial development policy;
6. Protection of environment, Reference to science
   implement state policies in the areas of science, education, culture, health, social security and environmental protection;
7. ensure the implementation of the defense, national security and foreign policies of the Republic;
8. shall ensure maintenance of law and order, take measures to strengthen the legal order, and ensure rights and freedoms of its citizens;
9. implements other functions and powers provided for by the Constitution and laws.

The Government shall submit the proposed state budget to the National Assembly at least ninety days prior to the beginning of the fiscal year and may request that this proposal, with any amendments it may adopt, be voted on prior to the expiration of the budget deadline. The Government may raise the question of a vote of confidence in conjunction with the adoption of the state budget. If a vote of no confidence is not adopted by the National Assembly, as provided under Article 75 of the Constitution, then the state budget and related amendments approved by the Government shall be considered adopted.

In the case of a vote of no confidence related to the proposed state budget, the new Government shall submit the draft state budget to the National Assembly within a period of ten days after approval of its program. This draft shall be debated and voted on by the

National Assembly within a period of thirty days in accordance with the procedures determined by this Article.

In the Republic of Armenia justice shall be administered solely by the courts in accordance with the Constitution and the laws.

Court decisions, judgments and verdicts shall be adopted in the name of the Republic of Armenia.

In the Republic of Armenia, function [as] the court of general jurisdiction of the first instance, the Courts of Appeals and the Court of Cassation and, in cases prescribed by law, the specialized courts as well.

Establishing emergency tribunals shall be forbidden.

The Constitutional Court administers the constitutional justice in the Republic of Armenia.

The independence of courts shall be guaranteed by the Constitution and laws.

The competences and the procedures of formation and activities of the courts shall be defined by the Constitution and laws.

The Constitution shall define the competence and the formation of the Constitutional Court while the procedure for the activities thereof shall be defined by the Constitution and the Law on the Constitutional Court.

The Constitution and the law shall define the procedure for the formation and the activities of the Council of Justice.

The Council of Justice shall consist of up to nine judges elected by secret ballot, as defined by law, for a period of five years by the General Assembly of Judges of the Republic of Armenia, two legal scholars appointed by the President of the Republic and two legal scholars appointed by the National Assembly.

The sittings of the Justice Council are headed by the President of the Court of Cassation without the right to vote.

In conformity with the procedure stipulated in the law the Council of Justice:

1. shall form and present to the approval of the President of the Republic the list of candidates of judges and the lists of their professional advancement, which shall be used as a basis for appointments;
2. shall give a conclusion on the submitted candidacies of judges;
3. shall nominate the candidates for the President of the Court of Cassation, chairmen and members of its chambers and candidates for the presidency of the appellate courts, first instance courts and other courts;
4. shall express opinion on issues of pardon on the request of the President of the Republic;
5. shall subject the judges to disciplinary responsibility, shall submit recommendation to the President of the Republic on terminating the power of a judge, detaining a judge, on agreeing to involve the judge as an accused or to institute a court proceeding to subject the judge to administrative responsibility.

The Judge and the members of the Constitutional Court shall be irremovable. The Judge and the member of the Constitutional Court shall hold their offices until the age of 65. They may be removed from office only in the cases and in a manner prescribed by the Constitution and the law.

When administering justice, judges and members of the Constitutional Court shall be independent and shall only be subject to the Constitution and the law.

The guarantees for the exercise of their duties and the grounds and procedures of the legal responsibility applicable to judges and members of the Constitutional Court shall be prescribed by law.

The Judge and the members of the Constitutional Court may not be arrested, named as an accused, as well as subjected to administrative liability through the judicial process except with the consent of the Council of Justice or Constitutional Court. The Judge and the members of the Constitutional Court shall not be detained save for cases when caught in flagrante delicto. In such cases, the President of the Republic and the President of the Cassation Court or Constitutional Court, accordingly, shall be notified immediately of the arrest.

Judges and members of the Constitutional Court may not go into business, hold office unrelated to his/her duties in a state or local self-administration body or in a commercial enterprise, or perform other paid work, save for academic, pedagogical and creative work.

Judges and members of the Constitutional Court may not be members of any political party nor engage in any political activity.

The Constitutional Court shall be composed of nine members.

The Constitutional Court shall, in conformity with the procedure defined by law:

1. determine the compliance of the laws, decisions of the National Assembly, decrees and orders of the President of the Republic, decisions of the Prime Minister and bodies of the local self-government with the Constitution;
2. Legal status of treaties, Treaty ratification
   prior to the ratification of international agreements determine the compliance of the commitments stipulated therein with the Constitution;
3. resolve all disputes arising from the outcomes of a referendum;
4. resolve all disputes arising from decisions adopted with regard to the elections of the President of the Republic and Deputies;
5. declare insurmountable or eliminated obstacles for a candidate for the President of the Republic;
6. provide a conclusion on the existence of grounds for impeaching the President of Republic;
7. provide a conclusion on the incapacity of the President to discharge his/her responsibilities;
8. provide a conclusion on terminating the power of a member of the Constitutional Court, on detaining the member, on agreeing to name the member as an accused, as well as instituting a court proceeding to subject the member to administrative responsibility;
9. Ombudsman
   provide the conclusion which serves as a basis for the removal of the Community head;
10. Regulation of political parties
    in cases prescribed by law adopt a decision on suspending or prohibiting the activities of a political party.

In conformity with the procedure set forth in the Constitution and the law on the Constitutional Court, the application to the Constitutional Court may be filed by:

1. the President of the Republic in cases stipulated in Points 1, 2, 3, 7 and 9 of Article 100 of the Constitution;
2. the National Assembly in cases stipulated in Points 3, 5, 7 and 9 of Article 100 of the Constitution;
3. at least one-fifth of the total number of the Deputies in cases stipulated in Point 1 of Article 100 of the Constitution;
4. the Government - in cases stipulated in Points 1, 6, 8 and 9 of Article 100 of the Constitution;
5. bodies of local self-government on the issue of compliance to the Constitution of the state bodies' normative acts violating their constitutional rights;
6. every person in a specific case when the final judicial act has been adopted, when the possibilities of protection in courts have been exhausted and when the constitutionality of a law provision applied by the act in question is being challenged;
7. courts and the Prosecutor General on the issue of constitutionality of provisions of normative acts related to specific cases within their proceedings;
8. the Ombudsman (Human Rights' Defender) on the issue of compliance of the normative acts listed in Point 1 of Article 100 of the Constitution with the provisions of Chapter 2 of the Constitution;
9. candidates for the President of the Republic and Deputies on matters listed in Points 3.1 and 4 of Article 100 of the Constitution.

The Constitutional Court shall start proceedings only upon the receipt of an application.

The Constitutional Court shall adopt decisions and conclusions in conformity with the procedure and terms stipulated in the Constitution and the Law on the Constitutional Court.

The decisions of the Constitutional Court shall be final and shall come into force following the publication thereof.

The Constitutional Court may adopt a decision stipulating a later term for invalidating a normative act contradicting the Constitution or a part thereof.

On matters stipulated in Points 1-4 and 9 of Article 100 of the Constitution, the Constitutional Court shall adopt decisions while on matters stipulated in Points 5-8, it shall issue conclusions. The conclusions and the decision on matters stipulated in Point 9 shall be adopted by at least two-thirds of the total number of the members while the remaining decision shall be adopted by a simple majority of votes.

If the conclusion of the Constitutional Court is negative, the issue shall be removed from the scope of competence of the relevant body.

The Office of the Prosecutor General in the Republic of Armenia represents a unified system, headed by the Prosecutor General. The Prosecutor General shall be appointed by the National Assembly on nomination of the President for a period of six years. The same person may not be appointed Prosecutor General for more than two consecutive terms.

In cases provided for by law the National Assembly, upon the proposal of the President, may dismiss the Prosecutor General by the vote of a majority of the total number of Deputies.

In conformity with the procedure and cases defined by law, the Office of the Prosecutor General shall:

1. instigate criminal prosecution;
2. oversee the lawfulness of preliminary inquiries and investigations;
3. present the case for the prosecution in court;
4. bring actions in court to defend the interests of the state;
5. appeal the judgments, verdicts and decisions of the courts;
6. oversee the legality of the discharge of penalties and other means of compulsion.

The Office of the Prosecutor General shall operate within the powers granted to it by the Constitution and on the basis of the law.

The local self-government shall be exercised in the communities.

The local self-government is the right and ability of the community to resolve on its own responsibility local problems aimed at the welfare of the inhabitants in accordance to the Constitution and the law.

A community comprises the populace of one or more residential areas.

A community shall be a legal entity, have the right to property and other economic rights.

The authority of the community pertaining to managing and administering the community's property, resolving issues of community significance, and other powers aimed at fulfilling the requirements of the community shall be exercised by the community. A certain part of the community's competences may be deemed by law obligatory.

In order to secure the more effective exercise of the powers of state bodies, the law may envisage the delegation thereof to the community bodies.

The land within administrative boundaries of the community, except for the land necessary for state needs and those belonging to natural persons and legal entities, shall be deemed the property of the community.

The community shall generate its budget independently.

The law shall define the sources of the community revenues.

The law shall define the sources of community finances that will secure the discharge of their responsibilities.

Responsibilities delegated to the communities shall be funded from the state budget.

The communities shall establish local taxes and duties within the scope defined by law. The communities can set forth fees for their services.

The community shall exercise its right of self-government through the bodies of local self-government the Council of Aldermen and the Head of Community, who shall be elected for a 4-year term of office in conformity with the procedures defined by law.

The Council of Aldermen of the community shall, in conformity with the procedures defined by law, manage the community property, approve the community budget upon the submission of the Head of Community, oversee the community budget execution, envisage local taxes, duties and fees in conformity with the procedure defined by law and adopt legal acts subject to observance in the territory of the community. The acts adopted by the community Council of Aldermen shall not contradict legislation; the law shall define the procedure for their publication and coming into force.

The law shall define the powers of the Head of Community and the procedure for the exercise thereof.

The community members can directly take part in the administration of the community affairs by resolving local problems through local referenda. The law shall define the procedure and terms for conducting a local referendum.

Yerevan is a community. The peculiarities of local self-government and formation of local self-government bodies in the City of Yerevan shall be defined by law. A law may provide for a direct or indirect election of the Mayor of Yerevan.

To ensure the lawfulness of the activities of the community, legal control shall be exercised in conformity with the procedure defined by law. The procedure for the state oversight over the discharge of the powers delegated to the community shall be provided for by law.

The Government may remove the Community head in the cases prescribed by law on the basis of the conclusion of the Constitutional Court.

Consolidation or separation of communities, if in the public's interest, may take place as provided for by law. The National Assembly shall adopt the relevant law upon submission by the Government. Before tabling such legislation, the Government shall provide for local referenda in those communities affected. Outcomes of the local referenda shall be presented to the National Assembly along with the draft legislation. The communities may consolidate or separate irrespective of the outcomes of the local referenda.

The law shall define the principles and procedure for consolidation or separation of the communities as well as the terms for the election of local self-government bodies of newly formed communities.

Inter-community unions may be created by procedures provided for by law.

The Constitution shall be adopted or amended by referendum, which may be initiated by the President of the Republic or the National Assembly.

The President of the Republic shall call a referendum upon the request or agreement of the National Assembly. A majority vote of the total number of the Deputies is required for such a decision of the National Assembly.

The President of the Republic may remand the Draft Constitution or the draft of constitutional amendments, within twenty-one days following their submission, back to the National Assembly, with his or her objections and suggestions, requesting a reexamination.

The President of the Republic will submit to a referendum, within the period prescribed by the National Assembly, a draft Constitution or draft constitutional amendments when they are reintroduced by at least two-thirds of the total number of Deputies of the National Assembly.

If the initiative belongs to the President of the Republic, the National Assembly shall, within a three-month period following the receipt of the draft of the Constitution or amendments thereof, put the motion on holding a referendum on the draft to the vote. If the majority of the total number of the Deputies of the National Assembly vote for the draft, the latter shall be deemed adopted and the President of the Republic shall hold a referendum on the date set up by himself/herself.

Laws may be submitted to a referendum upon the request of the National Assembly or the Government in accordance with Article 111 of the Constitution.

Laws passed by referendum may only be amended by referendum.

The draft submitted to a referendum shall be considered to have been passed if it receives more than fifty percent of the votes, but not less than one-fourth of the number of registered voters.

Articles 1, 2 and 114 of the Constitution may not be amended.

Amendments to the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia shall come into force from the moment of the publication in the Official Bulletin of the Republic of Armenia except for the provisions on the Chairman of the Audit Chamber and the Prosecutor General in Point 9 of Article 55, the provisions in the first sentence of Article 63, Part 2, Article 74. 1, Part 1, Article 83. 4, provisions in the first sentence of Part 6 of Article 85, Article 86, Part 1, Article 88. 1, Article 101, Point 6, the term fixed in Article 107, Part 1.

The provisions on the Chairman of the Audit Chamber and Prosecutor General in the first sentence of Article 55, Point 9, Article 74. 1, Part 1, the provision contained in Article 83. 4, Article 86 and Article 88, Part 1 shall come into force on the day of the opening of the first session of the National Assembly of the next legislative period.

The provisions in the first sentence of Article 63, Part 2 shall be applied for the next legislative periods.

The provisions in Article 85, Part 6, shall enter into force on July 1, 2008.

The provisions in Point 6 of Article 101 shall enter into force on July 1, 2006.

The term fixed in Article 107, Part 1 shall come into force for the local self-government bodies elected after the adoption of the Amendments to the Constitution.

After the amendments to the Constitution come into force:

1. The National Assembly shall make the appropriate laws for the implementation of the amendments to the Constitution within two years.
2. The National Assembly shall within one year define by law the national anthem of the Republic of Armenia. Until then, the anthem prior to the amendments to the Constitution shall be valid.
3. The social rights provided for in the Constitution shall be valid to the extent specified by the appropriate laws.
4. Until the day of the opening of the first session of the next legislative period of the National Assembly, the President of the Republic:
   1. may, after consultations with the President of the National Assembly and the Prime Minister, dissolve the National Assembly and call for a special election;
   2. may remove the Prime Minister.
5. Until the day of the opening of the first session of the next legislative period of the National Assembly, the meetings of the Government shall be chaired by the President of the Republic, or upon his or her recommendation, by the Prime Minister. Government decisions shall be signed by the Prime Minister and approved by the President.
6. In the event of an imminent danger to the constitutional order and until the definition of the legal regime of the state of emergency by law is determined, the President of the Republic, after consulting with the President of the National Assembly and the Prime Minister, shall declare a state of emergency and take measures appropriate in the given circumstances and address the people on the situation.
7. The Chairman of the Central Bank shall remain in office until the expiry of the term of office determined by current law.
8. The Chairman of the Audit Chamber shall be appointed within five months after the first session of the next legislative period of the National Assembly. Until then, the Audit Chamber shall continue to exercise the powers as determined prior to the amendments to the Constitution.
9. The Prosecutor General shall continue to remain in office for no more than five months after the day of the opening of the first session of the next legislative period of the National Assembly until the appointment of the Prosecutor General in the manner prescribed in Article 55, Point 9 of the Constitution.
10. The acting judges and legal scholars of the Council of Justice shall continue to remain in office until the expiry of their term of office. The National Assembly shall, within three months, elect two legal scholars of the Council of Justice.
11. The members of the independent body provided for in Article 83.2 shall continue to remain in office until the expiry of their term of office determined by the Law on TV and Radio. Upon expiry of term of office or in case of their early resignation or dismissal, new members shall be appointed consecutively by the National Assembly and the President of the Republic.
12. The bodies of the local self-government in the city of Yerevan shall be formed no later than within two years after the adoption of the appropriate law. Before then, the current order for the local self-government and territorial administration of the city of Yerevan shall remain in force.
13. Current members of the Constitutional Court shall remain in their positions until the age of 70.