Constitution

Republic of North Macedonia 1991 Constitution (reviewed 2011)

Table of Contents

AMENDMENT VII

  1. The Macedonian Orthodox Church, as well as the Islamic Religious Community in Macedonia, the Catholic Church, Evangelical Methodist Church, the Jewish Community and other Religious communities and groups are separate from the state and equal before the law.
  2. The Macedonian Orthodox Church, as well as the Islamic Religious Community in Macedonia, the Catholic Church, Evangelical Methodist Church, the Jewish Community and other Religious communities and groups are free to establish schools and other social and charitable institutions, by way of a procedure regulated by law.
  3. Item 1 of this amendment replaces paragraph 3 of Article 19 and Item 2 replaces paragraph 4 of Article 19 of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia.

AMENDMENT VIII

  1. Members of communities have a right freely to express, foster and develop their identity and community attributes, and to use their community symbols.The Republic guarantees the protection of the ethnic, cultural, linguistic and religious identity of all communities.Members of communities have the right to establish institutions for culture, art, science and education, as well as scholarly and other associations for the expression, fostering and development of their identity.Members of communities have the right to instruction in their language in primary and secondary education, as determined by law. In schools where education is carried out in another language, the Macedonian language is also studied.
  2. This amendment replaces Article 48 of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia.

AMENDMENT IX

  1. The Republic guarantees the protection, promotion and enhancement of the historical and artistic heritage of Macedonia and all communities in Macedonia and the treasures of which it is composed, regardless of their legal status.
  2. Item 1 of this amendment replaces paragraph 2 Article 56 of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia.

AMENDMENT X

  1. The Assembly can take a decision if its meeting is attended by a majority of the total number of Representatives. The assembly makes decisions by a majority vote of the Representatives attending, but no less than one-third of the total number of Representatives, in so far as the Constitution does not provide for a qualified majority.
  2. For laws that directly affect culture, use of language, education, personal documentation, and use of symbols, the Assembly makes decisions by a majority vote of the Representatives attending, within which there must be a majority of the votes of the Representatives attending who belong to communities not in the majority in the population of Macedonia. In the event of a dispute within the Assembly regarding the application of this provision, the Committee on Inter-Community Relations shall resolve the dispute.
  3. This amendment replaces Article 69 of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia.

AMENDMENT XI

  1. The Assembly elects the Public Attorney by a majority vote of the total number of Representatives, within which there must be a majority of the votes of the total number of Representatives who belong to communities not in the majority in the population of Macedonia.
  2. The Public Attorney protects the constitutional rights and legal rights of citizens when these are violated by bodies of state administration and by other bodies and organizations with public mandates. The Public Attorney shall give particular attention to safeguarding the principles of non-discrimination and equitable representation of communities in public bodies at all levels and in other areas of public life.
  3. Item 1 of this amendment replaces paragraph 1 of Article 77, and Item 2 is added to paragraph 2 of Article 77 of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia.

AMENDMENT XII

  1. The Assembly shall establish a Committee for Inter-Community Relations.The Committee consists of 19 members of whom 7 members each are from the ranks of the Macedonians and Albanians within the Assembly, and a member each from among the Turks, Vlachs, Romas, Serbs and Bosniaks. If one of the communities does not have representatives, the Public Attorney, after consultation with relevant representatives of those communities, shall propose the remaining members of the Committee.The Assembly elects the members of the Committee.The Committee considers issues of inter-community relations in the Republic and makes appraisals and proposals for their solution.The Assembly is obliged to take into consideration the appraisals and proposals of the Committee and to make decisions regarding them.

    In the event of a dispute among members of the Assembly regarding the application of the voting procedure specified in Article 69(2), the Committee shall decide by a majority vote whether the procedure applies.

  2. Item 1 of this amendment replaces Article 78 of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia and line 7 of Article 84 is deleted.

AMENDMENT XIII

  1. In appointing the three members, the President shall ensure that the Security Council as a whole equitably reflects the composition of the population of Macedonia.
  2. Item 1 of this amendment is added to paragraph 2 of Article 86 of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia.

AMENDMENT XIV

  1. Three of the members shall be elected by a majority vote of the total number of Representatives, within which there must be a majority of the votes of the total number of Representatives who belong to the communities not in the majority in the population of Macedonia.
  2. This amendment is added to paragraph 2 of Article 104 of the Constitution of the Republic of Macedonia.