Constitution

Paraguay 1992 Constitution (reviewed 2011)

Table of Contents

Part II. Of the Political Order of the Republic

Title I. Of the Nation and of the State

Chapter I. Of the General Declarations

Article 137. Of the Supremacy of the Constitution

The supreme law of the Republic is the Constitution. [The Constitution], the treaties, conventions and international agreements approved and ratified, the laws dictated by the Congress and other juridical provisions of inferior hierarchy, sanctioned in consequence, integrate the positive national law [derecho positivo] in the enounced order of preference [prelación].

Whoever attempts to change that order, outside [al margen de] the procedures specified in this Constitution, would incur in the crimes that will be classified and punished in the law.

This Constitution will not lose its force or stop being observed because of acts of force nor may [it] be abrogated [derogada] by any other means different from the ones it provides [dispone].

All the provisions or acts of authority opposed to that established in this Constitution lack validity [validez].

Article 138. Of the Validity of the Juridical Order

The citizens are authorized to resist those usurpers, through every means at their reach. In the hypothesis that [a] person or group of persons, invoking any principle or representation contrary to this Constitution, [should] wield the public power, their actions are declared null and of no validity [valor], nonbinding and, for this, the People exercising their right to resist oppression, are excused from complying with them.

The foreign states that, for any circumstance, relate themselves to such usurpers, may not invoke any pact, treaty or agreement subscribed to or authorized by the usurping government, [so as] to demand it later as an obligation or commitment of the Republic of Paraguay.

Article 139. Of the Symbols

The symbols of the Republic of Paraguay [are]:

  1. the flag of the Republic;
  2. the national seal, and
  3. the national anthem.

The law will regulate the characteristics of the symbols of the Republic that were not specified in the resolution of the Extraordinary General Congress of 25 November 1842, and will determine their use.

Article 140. Of the Languages

Paraguay is a multicultural and bilingual country.

Castilian and Guarani are official languages. The law will establish the modalities for using one and the other. The indigenous languages, as well as those of other minorities, are part of the cultural patrimony of the Nation.

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